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EXCLUSIVE: Club record signing Georginio Rutter is gearing up for his potential Leeds debut against Brentford on Sunday, turning his virtual FIFA teammate Rodrigo into a real-life colleague on the pitch
- Leeds club record signing Georginio Rutter is in the squad to play Brentford
- You could see him line up alongside his virtual FIFA teammate Rodrigo in real life.
- Foward Rutter signed from Hoffenheim earlier this week for a record £35.5m
- He was persuaded to join Leeds by a childhood friend, goalkeeper Illan Meslier.
For Georginio Rutter, making his Leeds debut will be like playing a FIFA match.
The French striker is in the Los Blancos squad to face Brentford on Sunday after sealing his club record £35.5m transfer fee from Hoffenheim.
And if he comes off the bench, he could find himself lining up next to a player he’s partnered with, virtually, before.
Club record signing Georginio Rutter is in Leeds United’s squad to face Brentford on Sunday
“I used to play on the PlayStation with Rodrigo on my team,” Rutter smiles. “It was particularly fast on PlayStation. I’d be up front with him – 4-4-2, me and Rodrigo!’
The 20-year-old’s arrival adds to an arsenal of attacking talent at Leeds, which in addition to top 12-goal scorer Rodrigo, who was the club’s previous record £27m purchase, also includes in-form Italian Willy Gnonto. .
Rutter was in the stands at Elland Road on Wednesday night when the 19-year-old Gnonto hit his Paolo Di Canio-style scissor kick volley just 26 seconds after their 5-2 win in the replay of the third round. round of the FA Cup over Cardiff.
If he makes his debut, Rutter could find himself alongside his virtual FIFA teammate Rodrigo.
So do you think you could score a goal like that? “I think I can,” she smiles. “But it was an incredible goal. I told him he could try 10 times and once he would score a goal!’
Rutter was introduced to the fans on the pitch at half time that night, giving him an idea of what to expect if he shows up at Elland Road on Sunday. “The atmosphere was absolutely incredible, it was just magical,” he says. ‘I already have a song in the stadium!’
He began his career at Ligue 1 side Rennes, where he became the youngest French player to score in the Champions League at the age of 18. But after just five appearances, he moved to Bundesliga side Hoffenheim for just £700,000 in 2021. Now, two years later, he finds himself in the biggest league of all.
“It’s been a dream for me to play for a big club in the Premier League,” he says. That was always the goal. But to be honest, I didn’t think it would happen so fast.
The former Hoffenheim player has been hailed as ‘one of the most promising young players’
Hoffenheim sporting director Alexander Rosen recently described Rutter as “one of the promising young players in European football.” And that it is Leeds who have secured his signature is due in part to their goalkeeper Illan Meslier, his childhood friend from France.
“He’s like a big brother to me,” Rutter admits. I met him at Lorient, my first club as a child. I know Leeds is a huge club with a lot of history but after speaking to Illan he told me from the inside what a great club Leeds is so that convinced me too.”
Rutter’s immediate task will be to help Leeds avoid relegation as they sit just two points above the relegation zone and have not won in the Premier League since 5 November.
Goalkeeper Illan Meslier, Rutter’s childhood friend, convinced him to sign for Leeds United
“From what I’ve seen up close so far, with the quality of the players we have, we are a team that deserves to be higher in the league and hopefully we can move up the table,” he says.
The expectation will be on Rutter to provide the goals given the size of the fee he just ordered. But he adds: ‘It’s not something that puts pressure on me at all.
Transfers are one thing that is between clubs. It is the clubs that negotiate, I just continue with my football and I want to repay the trust that the club has placed in me.