Georginio Rutter has shared his feelings about his feelings at Leeds United during the summer transfer window.
While he seen some of his former teammates leave Elland Road, Rutter was also going through his own troubles following a very trying few months since leaving Hoffenheim.
Borussia Dortmund and Lyon are rumoured to have expressed interest in signing Rutter during the summer, with the former reportedly having had a bid of £25 million rejected.
And now, after going through such a difficult period, Rutter has admitted on the Official Leeds United Podcast that he knew anything was conceivable for his future going into the summer.
Rutter claims that when he returned to Thorp Arch for preseason, he was really low in confidence and had no idea what to expect from his transfer window.
The confidence levels of Rutter have completely reverted.
“As a football player, you never know what happens when you don’t play,” he stated. I was unaware of the manager’s plans to stay. I therefore tell myself that anything is possible and that I may either stay or go. Perhaps the club is saying, “Georgie, we need you. You can go because last year wasn’t good.”
“You never know.” I went on vacation and was unaware of what transpired. I completely shut down. I, for one, was not playing and was considering my options for returning to Leeds. It might be awful, so turn it off. It was unusual because I was feeling unwell in training and on the pitch once I returned with the new coach.
“I felt as though I couldn’t play football. I entered the field and my football was gone. Pressure was on the season the previous year, not on it this time. Preseason was all about self-assurance. I didn’t play last year, but we’re in the championship today. Perhaps I remain, perhaps I don’t.
According to Phil Hay, Daniel Farke urged 49ers Enterprises to turn down any bids, which suggests that he was the one who made sure Rutter stayed in the summer.
Looking back, it’s clear that Farke saw something in the 21-year-old during the preseason that Rutter may not have thought he was displaying. Fortunately, he was right.
Having been one of Leeds’ players of the season thus far, Rutter’s confidence is now fully returned. He even described his performance against Watford as the finest of his career.
It’s encouraging to hear that Rutter has overcome his difficulties, as it seems he was going through more hardship than most people realised earlier in the year.
