Leeds United record signing Rodrigo will cost the club less if they are relegated
Leeds United forward Rodrigo’s club-record move from Valencia will end up costing the club less if they are relegated, according to SuperDeporte.
The Spaniard arrived in August 2020 for a reported £27million fee (Sky Sports) but has been an inconsistent performer at Elland Road.
The Whites are currently outside the Premier League relegation zone by a single point with one game left, while both drop rivals Everton and Burnley also play Thursday night (19 May).
While all the financial predictions for falling back into the Championship are far from appealing, the price that the 31-year-old has struggled to justify would apparently at least reduce.
In a piece focusing on Valencia chairman Anil Murthy’s travails in attempting to sell his former forward to Barcelona for €63million, SuperDeporte says: “[Rodrigo] landed at Leeds United and one of the transfer conditions was related to a possible relegation of the English team.”
Therefore if they go down it reportedly means: “Valencia would thus receive less money for the final transfer.”
Minor silver lining
If nothing else this should mean Jesse Marsch’s side will get the benefit of some extra support from Spain in their fight against the drop.
Rodrigo has been elevated to more of a core member of the squad under the new manager, as he was made part of the American’s leadership council.
He has scored three key goals in crucial wins since Marcelo Bielsa left, without which United would surely already be down.
But having not emerged as a leading contributor in every game, despite the price tag, he continues to frustrate fans, and The Athletic’s Phil Hay has singled him out as a player he doesn’t understand.
At this point however, everyone connected to the club would happily accept the record fee remain as it is if it means they stay in the top flight.
If the Spanish international can contribute to that in the final game of the season against Brentford (22 May) then some might even consider it a fair deal overall.
In other Leeds United news, Sky Sports pair Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher have predicted the Whites’ chances ahead of the final day of the season.