Leeds United record signing Rodrigo has revealed that the opportunity to work under Marcelo Bielsa and 'enjoy football' was a key factor in his decision to join the club.
The Whites confirmed the arrival of their new Spanish forward on Saturday in a deal that surpasses their £18million spent on Rio Ferdinand almost 20 years ago.
Rodrigo will compete with Patrick Bamford for a place in Bielsa's starting XI although he has the tactical flexibility to play in a more withdrawn role out wide or in the number 10 position.
The 29-year-old is yet to meet up with his new teammates at Thorp Arch after being called up to the Spanish national team for their Nations League matches against Germany and Ukraine this week.
Speaking to the press ahead of the doubleheader, Rodrigo was quizzed about his move to Elland Road where he revealed the draw of Bielsa.
"The club had to look to let go a lot of players, I don't know if purely financially or for sporting reasons too," he told the press.
"When Leeds came up, it was really attractive to me. To play in the Premier League, to work with a great coach like Bielsa.
"I go to a club with history, which is doing things very well. In recent years, being one of the captains of Valencia, you end up living problem after problem.
"I wanted to enjoy football, train and think about playing."
This will be Rodrigo's second taste of the Premier League following a season spent on loan at Bolton ten years ago, with the former Benfica man looking forward to again sampling the culture of English football.
"Yeah, my first experience was with Bolton in 2010," he told LUTV upon arrival.
"It was my first year in the first division. It was a really, really nice experience. I was young at that moment, of course nowadays I'm a better player, I'm a more complete player than those years.
"And I'm really excited to come back to the Premier League, how people feel the football there is different from the other countries and that's it.
"I want to enjoy, me and my family, it's an important step professionally but in my life also. I think it's going to be a good experience."
