Current Leeds United boss Daniel Farke will be hoping he can secure promotion come the end of the season, ending the club’s two-year stint in the Championship.
Should the German manage to achieve such a feat, he would replicate the success of Marcelo Bielsa at Elland Road, securing a return to the Premier League at the second time of asking.
The Argentine injected discipline and quality into the playing squad, with his infamous high-intensity playstyle getting the best out of the crop of players – subsequently leading them to the promised land.
He would take the club to unexpected heights, achieving a top-half finish in their return to the top-flight, giving the supporters moments to cherish, albeit behind-closed-doors due to the Covid situation.
Such investment would allow for the 69-year-old to be such a success, with numerous of the additions after promotion making a huge impact during their respective periods at Elland Road.
Raphinha joined Leeds as an unknown quantity to many, arriving in a £17m deal from French side Stade Rennes – wasting no time on impressing in Yorkshire.
The Brazilian would register 17 goals and 12 assists in his two full seasons at the club, even securing survival on the final day against Brentford, scoring and helping the Whites enter their third season in the top flight.
However, he would take no part in the 2022/23 season, leaving in a £55m deal to join Barcelona – a record fee received by the club, forever stitching himself into the club’s history.
Illan Meslier also joined in the summer after promotion, making his move permanent following his loan stint at Elland Road the season prior – becoming the number one between the sticks ever since.
The Frenchman has made 200 appearances, often making a mistake or two along the way, but still maintaining the support of various managers, showcasing the talent he possesses.
However, one other player also moved to the club during the summer of 2020, looking to offer that added threat to make them a success in the Premier League.
The player who Leeds struck gold offloading
Spanish forward Rodrigo arrived in the summer of 2020 from Valencia, costing £30m – a transfer fee that would break the club record in the process, a record eventually broken by Georginio Rutter.
|
Leeds’ most expensive additions in their history |
|
|---|---|
|
Player |
Fee |
|
1) Georginio Rutter |
£35.5m |
|
2) Rodrigo |
£30m |
|
= Daniel James |
£30m |
|
4) Brenden Aaronson |
£24.7m |
|
5) Rio Ferdinand |
£23.4m |
|
Stats via Transfermarkt |
|
He would spend three years in the club’s first-team, amassing a total of 99 appearances, with Bielsa putting huge trust in his skill set – dubbing the Spaniard as “very dangerous“.
“He becomes a starter when he’s in a good state of form. When he has been without playing for over a month, his return to the team is not instantaneous. When he finds his best form, he is a very dangerous forward and is very useful.” Marcelo Bielsa on Rodrigo
The former Whites talent registered a total of 28 goals – an average of one goal every 3.5 outings, a solid return for a player who spent his last two years in the midst of a relegation battle.
After dropping into the second tier ahead of 2023/24, Rodrigo would leave Yorkshire in a £3m deal to join Qatari outfit Al-Rayyan – ending his three-year spell undoubtedly as a fan-favourite.
However, given his form in the Middle East throughout the current campaign, the club certainly made the right call in allowing him to depart, failing to match the levels he produced in England.
The Spaniard has only notched two goals throughout 2024/25, showcasing the struggles he’s faced since his move away from Elland Road two and a half years ago. For context, that’s even fewer than fellow Spaniard Mateo Joseph (3) back at Thorp Arch and perhaps more incredibly, Jayden Bogle (4).
Whilst the club lost £27m on their investment, his goals came at crucial times in the Premier League, enabling them to sustain their top-flight status, potentially making him worth the big-money fee.
However, his recent record showcases that he’s no longer at the level required in Europe, gradually coming to the end of his career, with the hierarchy making the right decision in not standing in his way.
It’s a shame that he’s not managed to replicate such with his current side, with his spell in Yorkshire undoubtedly staying in the hearts of supporters – producing countless moments of magic during his stint at the club.
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