Leeds United have broken their club transfer record to sign striker Rodrigo Moreno from Valencia, but it will not just be at club level next season where the 29-year-old will be hoping to impress.
No doubts fans will be licking their lips about seeing Rodrigo in action, and he will soon join his teammates for pre-season training for the first time.
However, the striker will not have a full pre-season under Marcelo Bielsa as he has been called up by Spain boss Luis Enrique for the upcoming Nations League matches against Germany and Ukraine in early September.
This will be the first opportunity for Leeds fans to get a glimpse of their new star forward, who will be looking to lead the line for his nation in next summer’s European Championships.
Rodrigo became increasingly prominent for La Roja firstly under Julen Lopetegui and then his successors Enrique and Robert Moreno - who has subsequently been stood down following his predecessor’s return to the role.
He netted seven national goals across 2018 and 2019, including the winner in the 2018 Nations League clash against England at Wembley, before hitting four goals in Spain’s qualification campaign for the European Championships. Indeed, since the 2018 World Cup - only one player has appeared more often for Spain or scored more goals for the team: Sergio Ramos.
This is a trend which looks set to continue going into the Nations League with Rodrigo set to play another crucial role. He is the only recognised striker in the newly-named squad, with Real Sociedad’s Mikel Oyarzabal the closest option to a leading forward in the team. Of the six forward players in the squad, three have never previously been capped - including new Manchester City winger Ferran Torres, Adama Traore of Wolverhampton Wanderers and Barcelona teen Ansu Fati.
The only striker who could have greater standing at this moment in time is Alvaro Morata, who has been excluded from this call-up. The Atletico Madrid striker has netted 17 goals in 33 caps and has replaced the out-of-form Diego Costa for both club and country. Villarreal striker Gerard Moreno, who has only won three caps previously, and Celta Vigo captain Iago Aspas are other options but both have also been excluded. Aspas turns 34 next summer and with Enrique appearing to emphasise the significance of youth in his newest squad, it could be that the former Liverpool striker is no longer under serious consideration.
All of which has left Rodrigo as the senior attacking option in the squad and a golden opportunity to establish himself as first-choice striker ahead of next summer’s tournament. Since his recall to the international fold in late 2017, Rodrigo has netted eight goals in 21 caps - admirable figures for a striker who brings a lot more to the table than just his instinct in the area.
His role for Spain has been similar to the one often deployed at Valencia - used as a foil and for his energy in hustling and harrying opposition defenders into mistakes. It is with this in mind that he has often thrived alongside Morata or Costa at national level. But with a slower pace than club football, Rodrigo’s energy levels are clearly valued by Enrique and the fact he can compliment that with a goal return is an added bonus.
Enrique’s squad selections can be unpredictable with multiple changes each time he has selected a new 23-man panel. Players will be aware the pressure is on them to grab their opportunities and perform straight away.
However, for all the talent that Spain have in their ranks it is the forward positions in which they are shortest and Rodrigo is a key option. He will not need any added motivation to thrive at Elland Road this season, but if he is an instant hit at Leeds then he knows he stands a unique opportunity to star for his nation next summer.
