Rodrigo reflects on Bolton Wanderers past and describes his relationship with Leeds United fans

Thirty-one-year-old forward Rodrigo is now nearly two and a half years into life at Leeds having joined the club from Valencia for a club record fee of £27m back in August 2020. But the Brazilian-born striker's first taste of English football came way back in 2010 when the 19-year-old forward joined Bolton on a season-long loan from Benfica.

The striker then had three more years at Benfica upon his return to Portugal before joining Valencia which ultimately provided the platform for his move to Leeds. Rodrigo made 21 appearances for Bolton in the Premier League season of 2010-11, scoring once in a 1-1 draw at home to Wigan Athletic in January 2011.

Over a decade later, the Spanish international now has 76 outings for Leeds to his name and 22 goals, nine of which have been netted this term. Speaking on the Official Leeds United Podcast, Rodrigo was asked to compare his current experience at Leeds to his time at Bolton and reasoned: "It is completely different. It is a different time in my life as well.

"I was really young when I was in Bolton, it was my first experience away from Spain as well. That time - I really enjoy it more now. I live away and live this different experience with me and with my family as well so I enjoy it much more now than that time when I was with Bolton.”

Reflecting on his relationship with United's fans, and how he found them when he saw them in the city, the striker beamed: "Good. I think you can see that the club is really important in people's lives in Leeds. It has a massive impact in people's lives and that's nice to see as well. That shows as well for us a responsibility to represent this club. It is really nice to represent this club and I'm really happy."