‘Super Saturday’ as Leeds United splash out £40m on international rivals Rodrigo and Robin Koch

Leeds United recruit Robin Koch is relishing locking horns with new club team-mate Rodrigo on the international stage later this week.
By Leon Wobschall
Published 31st Aug 2020, 06:00 BST
Spanish forward Rodrigo Moreno has joined Leeds United. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO/AFP via Getty Images)Spanish forward Rodrigo Moreno has joined Leeds United. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO/AFP via Getty Images)
Spanish forward Rodrigo Moreno has joined Leeds United. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO/AFP via Getty Images)

A stellar Saturday saw Leeds complete the club record signing of Spanish international striker Rodrigo in a deal worth £27m plus significant add-ons. United followed up the capture of the Valencia forward with the £13m addition of Freiburg defender Koch, with the signing of the German taking the club’s spending to £40m in one day.

Koch is part of Germany’s squad for forthcoming internationals against Spain and Switzerland, with Joachim Low’s side hosting Spain in a Uefa Nations League fixture in Stuttgart on Thursday evening.

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On potentially lining up against Rodrigo before playing alongside him for Leeds, Koch – who has signed a four-year deal at Elland Road – said: “It will be cool when we play against each other with the national team and then some days later we play here together at Leeds. I think he is a top player. To play for the Spanish national team, you have to be a top player, he has played in La Liga.”

It may be the start of Koch’s adventure in England, but the centre-half admits to being clued up about the club he is joining and also its rich history.

The 24-year-old revealed that his father has spoken to him about Leeds’s historical place and stature in the game, while watching the Amazon Prime documentary series on the club entitled Take Me Home has broadened his contemporary knowledge of his new club.

Koch added: “Most of the time it is from my dad and some of the older generation. Everyone knows in that generation that Leeds is a huge club.

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“I watched the Amazon series and you get a feeling of how big this club is, with all the fans in the background.

“I got a feeling for this club and even on social media, every day since I don’t know, one or two months ago, I have had like 20 messages each day: ‘are you coming to Leeds, come to Leeds’. It was great for me.

“I am just very happy. Everything is clear now.

“The Premier League is one of the biggest leagues in the world,” he added.

Leeds are also interested in signing Udinese midfielder Rodrigo de Paul, 26, who is an Argentinian international.

Related topics:Robin KochSpain

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