‘Elite’ signing Leandro Rodriguez has not proved Everton wrong two years after exit

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Back in the summer of 2015 Everton boss Roberto Martinez helped the club recruit talented Uruguayan forward Leandro Rodriguez. The attacker arrived on a reported £500,000 deal from River Plate Montevideo, where he had scored 20 goals in 78 games.

A young talent with apparent poachers instinct the Everton boss at the time felt he would go on to be a star for the Toffees.

However, that is not what happened.

The young attacker spent most of his time at Everton in the under-23s. He featured just once for the first-team, in a January 2016 win against Dagenham and Redbridge in the FA Cup.

He went on to spend rather unsuccessful loan spells at both Brentford and Belgian side Waasland-Beveren before his Everton career came to a halt.

He left after two years in August 2017. Without Martinez around to fight his corner anymore, he went back to Uruguay, joining one of the nation’s most infamous sides Danubio.

But Everton fans should not fret. It certainly does not appear that the Toffees let go of a brilliant talent.

“Leandro is one of those elite, talented youngsters who we like to bring in.

“I am not saying that to put pressure on the boy, but he is a player we can be very much excited about in the future.

“He probably won’t need time with the Under-21s because he has played enough games with his first team in Uruguay in a really competitive league.”

– Roberto Martinez speaking after signing Leandro Rodriguez

The Uruguayan has struggled to find his feet, even back in his homeland.

After a season at Danubio, where he was mostly used as a substitute, he moved on again. Rodriguez joined newly promoted side Torque earlier this month. The San Jose based side are owned by the City Football Group, controllers of Manchester City, and are an ambitious side looking for silverware.

Rodriguez, now 25, will hope to be a part of their ambitious plans going forward.

But as far as Everton are concerned, it does not seem they let a supreme talent slip through their fingers.