The 34-year-old has been speaking about his time at Elland Road and in the Premeir League
Matt C Jones
06:00, 02 Nov 2025
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Rodrigo celebrates a goal for Leeds (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)
Former Leeds United forward Rodrigo has reflected on his stint with the club and the challenges he faced in the Premier League,
The Spain international made the switch from Valencia to Yorkshire in the summer of 2020 after Leeds’ promotion back to the top flight for £27 million.
Rodrigo was arguably the most high-profile arrival that summer, although it took him a while to settle into English football. He scored 13 goals in his first two campaigns, but then netted 13 Premier League goals in his third campaign.
That was not enough to keep Leeds afloat in the division though and the striker left for Al-Rayyan SC after a clause was triggered in his contract.
Speaking to Flash Score, the forward recounted his initial impressions of the English game and what was so difficult about it.
“I think for every player who arrives to the Premier League, their first season is very difficult,” he said. “It’s very physical and demanding and the pace of the game is completely different.
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“The Premier League sometimes looks and feels like a different sport, you know? It was a very challenging moment in my career. Especially for the first season and a half with Bielsa, a very good but very demanding coach…"
Leeds thrived under Marcelo Bielsa in the Championship and for a spell in the Premier League. The mercurial coach does ask a lot of his players physically though, with everyone in the XI expected to press the opposition with ferocious intensity.
“It was a very good experience,” Rodrigo said of Bielsa. “I learned a lot from him, in many different ways. He is a legend in Leeds, people there love him, and deservedly so.
“After more than 20 years, he brought them back to the Premier League. It was special playing for him, I always wish him all the best.”
Rodrigo is now into his third season in the Middle East. He is back at Al-Rayyan after a loan spell with Al-Gharafa last season. He’s been back among the goals too, with eight goals in nine appearances across all competitions.
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