Ex-Leeds United chief Victor Orta reveals Rodrigo message in Sevilla transfer rumour response - YEP 20/6/23
Ex-Leeds United director of football Victor Orta has addressed a rumour in Spain that he will seek to bring Rodrigo with him to new club Sevilla.
By Graham Smyth
Orta parted company with the Whites after six years in the
wake of a boardroom decision to sack Javi Gracia and replace him with Sam
Allardyce but his return to work, at a club where he spent time previously, was
confirmed on Tuesday.
The possibility of Orta making a raid on his erstwhile
employers will be an obvious talking point in this summer window, particularly
in light of the rebuild that is anticipated at Elland Road.
Leeds, who have set Nick Hammond the three-month task of
masterminding and negotiating their transfer business, both incoming and
outgoing, will almost certainly lose a number of first team players for various
reasons. Some, like Rodrigo, retain international aspirations best served by
top flight football in Europe. The striker has a release clause and his
relatively prolific form in the Premier League last season will make him a
target for a number of clubs.
Orta was asked for his thoughts on Rodrigo and a possible
switch back to LaLiga for the frontman this summer, but initially declined to
speak about individuals.
"I’m not talking about specific names," he said.
"[Leeds] was a very happy time where we managed to get
the team promoted after 16 years in the lower divisions; it was in a foreign
country, they demand a lot, it’s a lot more complicated. We had a Premier
League budget and everything that comes with it. I managed the club with the
CEO and it’s a club that I’ll always have with me. It was a very important part
of my sporting life where I had great moments. The bad parts, they’re
forgotten, they were forgotten when I closed the door as I only want to focus
on the good things I experienced there which were so many things."
But Orta did put forward a theory as to why his new club
would be linked to Rodrigo, who this week been celebrating a Nations League
trophy triumph with Spain.
"Yesterday I sent him a congratulatory message for the
Nations League, if that’s where the rumour comes from then it’s a bit
exaggerated," said Orta.
Orta's words were translated for the YEP by Madrid-based
journalist Joe Brennan.
