Leeds United transfer news: Rodrigo admits he has heard about mooted Real Madrid exit with Elland Road contract verdict
Rodrigo has admitted he is aware of the links to a Real Madrid move but made clear his Leeds United contract has to be “respected”.
The Spanish forward is back in the international squad after a season in which he stood out for the Whites with 15 goals in all competitions.
A number of players are believed to have relegation release clauses in their Elland Road deals, and a report from Cope on 7 June suggested he was a target for the Madrid giants claimed the 32-year-old’s release fee was as low as €3.5million [£3million], but the former Valencia man says he doesn’t know what will happen.
The Spanish international told Radio MARCA: “I live in the real world, I have Instagram and friends who read the newspapers. I can’t tell you much beyond what we all know because I don’t know.
“I’m very focused on the National Team right now and on the next games. Then, I honestly don’t know what’s going to happen, but I have a contract with Leeds and that has to be respected.”
Departure
Few would begrudge Rodrigo a move this summer after he was one of the few Leeds United players who put in a strong showing across the campaign as a whole.
Without his goals the relegation that proved inescapable would have been confirmed some weeks earlier, and if he does have the chance to go to the Bernabeu it would be an opportunity that virtually any player in his situation would jump at.
However, if it is the case that he can go for so little having arrived at the club as a £27million club-record buy three years ago, and coming off his strongest season in a Whites shirt, it would be some missed opportunity to bring in a decent fee.
Release clauses are a necessary evil in some cases to avoid being lumbered with a high-priced squad outside the top flight, but to mark down his fee so far seems like the club have been sold very short.
Rodrigo is surely eyeing a move if a decent one comes up after relegation, and they don’t come much better than Real Madrid in the circumstances, but has displayed the sort of diplomacy that Illan Meslier didn’t in discussing the prospects of a move to Chelsea this weekend [RMC Sport, 10 June].
Both are likely to go during the window, but for now Rodrigo isn’t getting ahead of himself despite the prospect of a very attractive transfer.
In other Leeds United news, doubts have emerged within the 49ers investment group over whether the Whites buy-out is the right move.