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Dominic Matteo says Leeds new signing will be 'Slow burner', names 'Exciting' new addition
Former Leeds United player Dominic Matteo has claimed that new striker Rodrigo will be a “slow burner” at Elland Road.
Rodrigo, 29, became Leeds’ most-expensive player in August when he joined the Whites from Valencia in a deal beginning at £26million [BBC Sport].
The Spain international scored his first goal for the Whites at the weekend when he netted in the impressive 1-1 draw against Manchester City at Elland Road.
Despite him getting on the scoresheet against the Premier League title contenders, Matteo believes that it will be some time before Rodrigo is properly up to speed for Leeds.
“Rodrigo looked more up to pace and scored a goal that Leeds’ play warranted, albeit from another goalkeeping mistake,” Matteo wrote on the Yorkshire Evening Post website.
“His goal made him the first Spanish player to score for Leeds in the Premier League and had it not been for an outstanding Ederson save, he’d have got another.
“I think Rodrigo will be a bit of a slow burner but a very good player for Leeds once he’s fully up to speed.”
Leeds signed Brazilian winger Raphinha from Rennes on Monday for £17million.
Matteo has also delivered his verdict on the 23-year-old’s arrival at Elland Road
He added: “They’ve signed some exciting players and the new boy Raphinha looks like another.”
There is no doubting that it has been a massive transfer window for Leeds United and while it remains to be seen how their new players will perform over the course of the season, it has been an impressive start by some of them.
It was huge for Rodrigo to get his first goal for the Whites at the weekend and to get it against Man City will be a huge confidence boost for him.
Rodrigo’s not exactly had a consistent start to life at Leeds, playing as a centre-forward and a midfielder and only starting one of the club’s first four Premier League matches.
Marcelo Bielsa cannot justify dropping Patrick Bamford for Rodrigo at the moment due to the form he’s in but we think that there will come a day where the Spain international replaces the ex-Chelsea forward as Leeds’ starting number nine.
When that day will come, we don’t know. But Bamford’s scored in three of the four Premier League matches so far and Rodrigo’s clearly able to make an impact when coming off the bench – as seen on Saturday.
In other Leeds United news, talks are underway over this midfielder leaving on loan.