Phil Hay addresses issue of Rodrigo quarantine in UK & what Leeds are trying to do
Leeds United are working out how to integrate Rodrigo into their squad due to quarantine rules on people arriving in the UK from Spain, according to The Athletic journalist Phil Hay.
On the Government website, it says that “if you are returning from Spain you will be required to self-isolate on your return to the UK”.
Rodrigo underwent a medical in Valencia on Wednesday with Onda Deportivo reporting that he was due to fly to the UK after.
Leeds’ director of football Victor Orta is also in Spain after leading the club-record deal to sign Rodrigo from Valencia.
While Leeds fans are understandably excited by the prospect of Spain’s number nine heading to Elland Road, it could be a while before we see him start a game for the Whites, with Hay reporting that Patrick Bamford is most likely to start up front against Liverpool next month due to the issues facing Rodrigo’s integration.
“It’s inevitable that Bamford will start the season,” said Hay on the Phil Hay Show podcast.
“At the moment, Leeds are trying to work out how quarantining is going to be resolved with Rodrigo because, clearly, he’s in Spain and in theory, he should be quarantining for a couple of weeks.
“He’s due to go away for internationals next week as well.
“It would probably be a big challenge for Bielsa to get him ready for Anfield.”
Even if Rodrigo was available to train for Leeds today, we would not envisage Bielsa starting him against Liverpool at Anfield in just over two weeks’ time.
Bielsa wants his players to be fully up to speed with his tactics, as well as 110 per cent fit, before naming them in his starting line-up.
Helder Costa was signed as an addition to the starting line-up on July 3 but didn’t start a Championship match for the Whites until September 28.
It took almost three months for Costa to be up to Bielsa’s high standards and while we don’t think it will take Rodrigo as long, the quarantine issue and his international call-up are bound to extend his bedding-in period.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites are keen on this £20million-rated left-back from Eastern Europe.