49ers stance on Georginio Rutter shared after Leeds United rejected transfer bids
The 49ers never considered Georginio Rutter as a “salvage job” at Leeds United despite receiving transfer bids for him this summer, report the Yorkshire Evening Post.
Writing on their official website (8 September), journalist Graham Smyth reports that the player initially found it hard to leave Hoffenheim and move to Leeds mid-season, somewhat explaining his struggles at Elland Road initially.
But the 49ers never considered moving Rutter on despite those struggles, as shown by their decision to reject a £25m bid from Borussia Dortmund and shut the door on interest from Lyon during the summer window.
“He is young. Younger than Joe Gelhardt. And this very young player could so easily have tried to bail on a challenge in the summer and yet where others showed a clean pair of heels as soon as the window creaked ajar, Rutter opted to stay. Even for the ‘what have you done for me today?’ crowd that must count for something,” they wrote.
“By all accounts, ever since that decision was made, he has done all he can to start afresh at Leeds.
“49ers Enterprises did not consider Rutter any kind of salvage job because of his age and the short amount of time he had spent at the club prior to their takeover, so they did consider him well worth persevering with.
“As is the case with almost every striker, hitting the target frequently and making Elland Road roar with delight will ensure that just about everyone perseveres with him. The potential is there for an important role. Maybe even a heroic one.”
Talent
There is no doubting that Rutter had a really tough time of things when he first arrived in England in January, and walking into a really difficult situation at a club that was struggling won’t have helped.
Obviously relegation is never a good thing but it may help Rutter to realise his true potential at this club, as he gets a reset and a chance for redemption.
He’s already begun building a bond with the fans this season that he didn’t have last year, and with Daniel Farke in charge there is now a style of football on show that suits him while also in a league where the team is expected to dominate rather than be scrapping for points.
If he score goals and performs well then the fans will happily forget the first six months of his career at the club and begin to love him and adore him in the same way they did the likes of Mark Viduka and Patrick Bamford.
In other Leeds news, the club must offer a new contract to one star to avoid January transfer window chaos.