During their time together at Tottenham Hotspur, Jose Mourinho labelled Leeds United defender Joe Rodon as a player who could get ‘much, much better’.
Speaking to the Evening Standard after a 3-1 win at Sheffield United back in January 2021, Mourinho spoke of how much room for growth Rodon had.
Rodon was signed by Spurs from Swansea City in an £11 million deal back in 2020, but aside from a few appearances here and there, wasn’t given much of a chance.
His debut campaign saw him given a run of starts in a handful of matches across the season, but never enough so that he could find a rhythm in the Premier League.
This contrasted exactly what Mourinho said would need to happen for Rodon to fulfil his potential, stating that Spurs had to give him the opportunity to play and learn.
Mourinho prediction on Rodon coming true
Prior to his move to Leeds his career had hit a bit of a wall with a lack of game time at Spurs and an average loan at Rennes, meaning Mourinho’s prediction had been in danger of falling away.
He said: “He has to learn, he has to make mistakes, he has to play, he has to not play. We have to try to give him conditions to perform. but potentially, potentially of course, he’s a good player who can become much much better.”
All be it in the Championship, Rodon has now finally found a home at Leeds who can provide him with regular minutes, and it is clearly helping.
Rodon has been getting better and better with each game and has contributed to an excellent recent run of clean sheets for Leeds.
A full season of Championship football under his belt could give him the platform and confidence he needs to become a regular Premier League defender.
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