When Leeds United signed Rodrigo Moreno, the assumption was they’d done so to play him as a forward.
The transfer wasn’t cheap, taking the Spain international from Valencia for around €30m, and Rodrigo was then expected to lead the attack for Marcelo Bielsa’s side.
That hasn’t happened, with the 30-year-old mainly playing as an attacking midfielder. He’s scored three goals and added one assist in 19 Premier League matches so far this season, missing several games due to injury.
Speaking to AS, Rodrigo was asked by the Spanish newspaper about his international chances, given he’s now playing in a different position to the one the national team picked him for.
Rodrigo accepted it could have some impact on Luis Enrique’s thinking, and was quoted as saying: “Depends how you look at it. If you only look at the ratio of goals per game, it can hurt me. I don’t know the criteria of the selectors when choosing. It can also be a plus to play in various positions within 4-3-3.
“What I know from the first day I went to the national team is that it’s very difficult to return. There’s a lot of quality.”
Tactfully, AS then put it to the Leeds United player that he’s not really got a record of scoring lots of goals in recent seasons anyway, to which he replied: “After eleven years in the elite, it is clear I am not a No. 9 scorer. That is not my characteristic.”
Luis Enrique will have to make his own mind up, and it’s clear much will depend on the other options Spain has available.
