Leeds United boss Jesse Marsch has said that it is a shame he didn't meet Whites' star Rodrigo earlier in his coaching career - with the American claiming he could have tapped into his potential and made the Spaniard 'one of the best players in the world'.
Rodrigo has long been hyped as an international star, dating back as far as 2009 when he joined Real Madrid's youth team aged 18. Failing to make the grade at the Santiago Bernabeu, the Brazil-born star had two successful spells at Iberian giants Benfica and Valencia before making the switch to Elland Road in what was a club record move.
A slow first season in Yorkshire for Rodrigo had fans sceptical of his influence throughout the Marcelo Bielsa era; though an increase in form coinciding with the appointment of Marsch in February has seen the former Bolton Wanderers loanee establish himself as an key member of the squad. And Marsch believes that had he worked with Rodrigo from a young age whilst he was on the books in the Spanish capital, he could have made Leeds' No.19 'one of the best players in the world'.
