Nineteen months after his last Spain appearance, Leeds United’s number 19 is back in from the cold with his declared nation. Rodrigo has been richly rewarded for his best campaign with the Whites since arriving in 2020.
The 32-year-old’s 15 goals in 35 appearances were among the few aspects in United’s season that probably staved off relegation until the final day. Perhaps his goals may have kept Leeds up if he hadn’t been missing for 42 days with an ankle injury.
The call from Luis de la Fuente, just five days after United’s relegation from the Premier League, strikes a symbolic note for where the striker is at in his career. Despite battling through two challenging years with Leeds and then watching Spain squads come and go for more than 18 months, Rodrigo found something within himself to keep fighting and deliver in what was a poor club side.
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The forward adapted and applied himself, with most success under Jesse Marsch, kept grinding, kept scoring and now has his rewards. Rodrigo would have been forgiven for giving up on Spain with no caps in so long and his 30s stretching out in front of him.
And yet he turned in one of his best campaigns in years. The call-up is a reminder for the striker of what lies ahead of him if he keeps up this level with his club side.
In 12 months Spain will be preparing for Euro 2024 in Germany. Rodrigo would be 33 and perhaps looking at his last major tournament opportunity with the next World Cup not until 2026.
United’s relegation to the Championship is unlikely to meet the needs of De la Fuente or any Spain successor. With one year left on Rodrigo’s deal and wages which remain eye-wateringly large, even with a relegation reduction, all roads seem to lead to a summer exit.
At 32, Rodrigo still has one big move left in him and if it’s not in the Premier League, where he turned heads last season, then certainly there will be suitors in the upper reaches of La Liga looking at him. United will be glad to take a fee for his services too before, more importantly, removing his wages from the balance sheet.
After two challenging campaigns, Rodrigo’s stock was low at Elland Road and many would have accepted a sizeable fee for his services last summer. However, his consistency, leadership and attitude at the tip of last season’s attack will ensure memories of his time in West Yorkshire will be warm and favourable.
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