“The answer was no” – Leeds United turned down surprising approach from Barcelona for player - Sport Witness 2/9/21
By Sean Lunt
Barcelona enquired with Leeds United about a possible move
for Rodrigo but were told he was not available this summer.
That’s according to Jota Jordi, who appeared on El
Chiringuito to detail Barcelona’s attempts to find a striker this summer and
their conversation with Leeds.
The Catalan giants agreed to a deadline day move for Sevilla
striker Luuk de Jong earlier this week, signing the Dutchman on a season-long
loan deal with an option to make it permanent.
He arrives to fill a hole in Ronald Koeman’s forward line,
which has seen both Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann depart this summer.
De Jong is not the big-name signing that many at the club
had been hoping for, particularly given president Joan Laporta returned as
president with promises of Erling Haaland and his ilk.
According to Jordi, though, De Jong was not at the top of
their list, and there had been conversations about other forwards that simply
didn’t go anywhere.
“We already know that they have ended up signing Luuk de Jon
because Ronald Koeman’s target was a nine,” he said.
“He spoke of and wanted De Jong, but Barca have been making
moves for many weeks looking for a nine.
“Among others, for example, they have spoken to Cavani, and
last week Mateo Alemany was in Manchester asking for Sterling. The answer was
no.
“He was also in Leeds asking for Rodrigo, but again the
answer was no.”