Georginio Rutter’s media duties with Brighton & Hove Albion have not gone down too well with Leeds United.
In the Seagulls’ official announcement video confirming his signing, Rutter was captured typing a tweet which read, ‘Don’t go to bed just yet’, an infamous reference to a shambolic deadline day at Leeds in 2014.
In Rutter’s defence, it is highly unlikely he will have known what this reference means to Leeds, given he was 12 at the time and unlikely to have been keeping up with transfer activity at Elland Road at the point of his life.
Rutter delivered a long message of gratitude to Leeds on his Instagram following confirmation of his departure, though as mentioned, it received a mixed response.
Leeds claimed in their official statement Rutter was ‘persistent and adamant’ in his desire to leave, however that is an excuse which has now been peddled out multiple times under this ownership.
Rutter makes Raphinha claim after leaving Leeds
While Raphinha is quite clearly the better player, and achieved significantly more on the pitch at Leeds, both of their departures have been difficult to take.
Raphinha is comfortably the most talented player most Leeds fans of this generation have, and will ever see supporting this club.
Rutter, meanwhile, formed a brilliant relationship with the fanbase last season thanks to both his performances on the pitch, and personality off it.
Even after losing Crysencio Summerville and Archie Gray, he was a big reason why so many Leeds fans were confident of going one better this season. However, his departure has practically eroded all of that.
With that in mind, Brighton have been posting Rutter content across their social media platforms throughout today, one of which was a quickfire question and answer session.
One of the questions put towards Rutter was who the best player he has ever faced or come up against during his career, with one of his four answers Raphinha.
Though they did miss each other by just a few months at Leeds, Rutter was just coming into Rennes’ first team as a youngster when Raphinha was one of the French outfit’s best players.
The two clearly struck up a decent relationship, with Raphinha sending a message to Rutter on Instagram just after he had signed for Leeds.
Will Leeds ever find players like Raphinha and Rutter again?
At the moment, the relationship between the club and its supporters could not be any closer to rock bottom. A poor end to the window could well push it there.
Unfortunately, Leeds’ actions off the pitch are going to reflect in the mood in the stands and that is only going to be a hindrance to those still at the club.
A tense atmosphere is going to make it very difficult for a player to form the relationship with the crowd that Rutter did last season.
In turn, that could also affect Leeds’ performances on the pitch and prevent them from ever returning to the Premier League, and watching stars like Raphinha at Elland Road again. These next 10 days could well decide the next few years.
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