It is easy to forget just how big a signing Rodrigo Moreno was for Leeds United when he initially arrived at Elland Road.
The club had just returned to the Premier League when they broke their transfer record to bring the Spain international to Elland Road from Valencia. Expectations were high, and for a while, Rodrigo looked every bit the player Leeds had hoped to get.
His time in Yorkshire ultimately ended rather differently.
Rodrigo left Leeds in 2023 after three seasons, having scored 28 goals in 97 appearances across all competitions. He left with plenty of affection from supporters, but his career has taken an unexpected turn since leaving England.
And now, at 35, he is doing something that might surprise quite a few Leeds fans.
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Rodrigo has taken another step into the unknown
After leaving Leeds, Rodrigo joined Al-Rayyan in Qatar and spent a season there before moving to Al-Gharafa on loan.
He returned to Al-Rayyan for the 2025/26 campaign, but his time with the club has now ended.
This summer, Rodrigo made another move within Qatar. Rather than heading back to Spain or trying to squeeze out another spell in European football, he signed for Lusail SC on a free transfer.
It is a very different stage of his career from the one he was at when he walked through the doors at Elland Road.
Rodrigo has already been involved for Lusail this season, wearing the No.19 shirt and continuing to operate as an attacking player. He has made four appearances so far and scored three goals.
For someone who once represented Spain at a World Cup and played Champions League football with Valencia, the move may raise a few eyebrows.
But it also makes sense for a player now in the latter stages of his career.
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The Leeds memories remain
Rodrigo never quite became the consistent goalscorer Leeds supporters wanted, but there were some memorable moments.
His best season came in 2022/23, when he scored 15 goals and finished as Leeds’ top scorer despite the club ultimately being relegated.
He left that summer for Al-Rayyan, and Leeds confirmed he made 97 appearances and scored 28 goals during his three years at the club.
Now his career has taken him further away from the European spotlight.
At Lusail, however, Rodrigo still has something to offer. His experience, movement and finishing ability remain valuable, and scoring three times in his first four appearances suggests he has not completely lost his eye for goal.
It is certainly not where many Leeds fans would have expected Rodrigo’s career to end up when he arrived as the club’s record signing in 2020.
But football has a funny way of taking players down paths nobody could have predicted.
For Rodrigo, the latest chapter is unfolding in Qatar, and he appears to be enjoying it.
