Roberto Martinez loved Everton 'street footballer' who was left homesick and snubbed after transfer
Leandro Rodriguez, who made just one appearance for Everton, turns 32 today
Everton supporters learned quickly to take Roberto Martinez's effusive praise of his team and players with a pinch of salt. But in 2015, even those cynical about their coach's comments were left intrigued by how the Catalan talked about one new signing.
After a disappointing second campaign under Martinez - his first had yielded a Premier League record 72 points for the Blues - Everton were looking to rebuild at the start of his third term.
They invested in Ramiro Funes Mori, Aaron Lennon, Gerard Deulofeu and Mason Holgate that summer, while Tom Cleverley also arrived on a free transfer.
Martinez was just as excited when talking about his £500,000 signing from Uruguay than any of those established names though. That man was Leandro Rodriguez.
The striker arrived from River Plate Montevideo on a four-year deal after netting 19 goals in 71 games for his hometown club. Upon his arrival, the Everton manager said the striker is an 'elite, talented youngster who we like to bring in.'
But it wasn't until September 2015 when the Everton boss opened up on the player in more detail.
Rodriguez had netted a couple of times for the club's Under-21 team early in the season and was included in the first-team squad for the clash with Reading in the League Cup. He had shown glimpses of a striker's instinct and buzz was beginning to build among supporters.
"We were aware of Leandro's goalscoring ability very early on after seeing him in a tournament in the United States," Martinez said, noting the striker's dentist father wanted him to complete his academic studies.. "We wanted to follow his progress but then we saw he wasn’t playing for the first team, which we thought was very strange.
"It turned out his dad wouldn’t allow him to play because he wanted him to complete his degree at university. He then agreed to give Leandro one year to just concentrate at football and that’s when he really kicked on. He was really impressive in the games at River Plate Montevideo in how he found a way to score goals.
"Nothing has changed with the target we have for Leandro. He’s a street footballer because he takes what the defender gives you."
In the end, Rodriguez sat on the bench at Reading and had to wait until January 2016 to make his debut for the Blues, coming on for the final minute of the FA Cup win over Dagenham & Redbridge.
It would turn out to be Rodriguez's only outing for the club. He was sent on loan to Brentford in March before that deal was cut short. After Martinez's eventual sacking, Rodriguez's prospects did not improve. He was not even included in the pre-season touring squad in 2016 by his successor Ronald Koeman.
In a Royal Blue column in January 2017, Phil Kirkbride summed up the plight the youngster found himself in later that season, noting he was now "marooned in football purgatory"
"Back to Everton's under-23s he went, making the odd appearance in the Lancashire and Liverpool Senior Cups as the second string built up their pre-season, but try as he might he failed to make an impression," he wrote.
"A rare call-up came that Tuesday night in Cheltenham, when the u-23s lost 2-1 to the League Two side in their second Checkadtrade Trophy game. Conor McAleny, Bassala Sambou and Delial Brewster were the preferred attacking changes from the bench that night.
"Rodriguez showered, got back on the bus, having barely broken sweat, and travelled through the night back to Merseyside.
"For the sake of his career he needs to leave. Footballers, even at Rodriguez’s level, earn the type of money that means sympathy can be in short supply but the sight of the young striker that night in Cheltenham, the homesickness he suffered when he left Uruguay and the fact his job prospects are extremely poor will perhaps soften some people’s stance."
After a loan to Waasland-Beveren was also ended prematurely, in August 2017 he eventually left Everton to join Uruguayan outfit Danubio. Since then he has represented seven clubs and currently plays for Bella Vista.