‘I can leave’… Key Leeds United player admits he really thought about exiting Elland Road in the summer

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Georginio Rutter has opened up on how he felt during the summer transfer window at Leeds United.

Rutter watched on as several of his teammates from last season departed Elland Road, but at the same time, was having struggles of his own after such a difficult few months since moving from Hoffenheim.

Leeds are said to have fielded interest from both Borussia Dortmund and Lyon for Rutter over the summer, with the former even having a bid of £25 million turned down.

And now speaking on the Official Leeds United Podcast, Rutter has revealed he went into the summer knowing anything was possible regarding his future, having had such a tough time.

Rutter says his confidence levels were incredibly low upon his return to Thorp Arch for pre-season, and just had no idea as to how his transfer window was going to play out.

Rutter confidence levels have come full circle

He said: “When you are a footballer and do not play, you don’t know what happens. Whether the manager was staying, I didn’t know. So in my head I say everything can be possible, I can leave, I can stay. Maybe the club say Georgi we need you, Georgi last year was not good so you can go.

“You never know. I go on holiday and didn’t know what happened. I switched off totally. For me, I was not playing and thinking what can I do when I comeback to Leeds. It could be terrible so switch off. After I comeback with the new coach, it was strange as I was feeling bad on the pitch and in training.

“It was like I can’t play football. I go on the pitch my football was lost. It wasn’t pressure, pressure was on the season last year. Pre-season was about confidence. Last year I didn’t play, now we are Championship. Maybe I stay, maybe I don’t.”

Daniel Farke is said to be the man who made absolutely sure that Rutter did not leave in the summer, with Phil Hay reporting that the Leeds boss told 49ers Enterprises to reject any offers.

Clearly Farke was able to spot something in the 21-year-old over pre-season that Rutter did not necessarily believe he was showing, and looking back, thankfully he did.

Rutter’s confidence levels have now come full circle having been one of Leeds’ players of the season so far, even labelling his performance against Watford as the best of his career.

It sounds like Rutter was having an even tougher time than everybody thought earlier this year, and it is good to see he has come out the other side.