Who is Rodrigo De Paul? The creative maestro still wanted by Leeds

 

In the 2020 summer transfer window, it was well documented that Rodrigo De Paul was Leeds' number one target. Udinese, though, reportedly slapped a €35m asking price on the Argentine and the Whites, deterred by the potential fee despite a splurge upon their Premier League return, turned their attention elsewhere. 

 

Raphinha was bought instead and the Brazilian has made an immediate impact following his arrival from Rennes. Yet, there remains a 'what if' feeling surrounding De Paul, who was keen to link up with compatriot Marcelo Bielsa at Elland Road. At this stage of the season, Udinese are unlikely to be dragged into a relegation dogfight, nor are they to make a late surge for Europe, leaving them in stuck in mid-table with little to play. 

 

That, though, hasn't stopped De Paul from once again excelling in Serie A and it's feasible to suggest that the Zebrette won't face a drop in division due to the Argentine's excellence in the final third. 

 

The 26-year-old is far and away Udinese's best rated player in Serie A this season, returning a WhoScored rating of 7.46 in 2020/21, that 0.47 higher than their second best rated, Ignacio Pussetto. He has scored more goals (6) and provided more assists (5) than any other Udinese player in Serie A this season, but there is no denying the latter figure should be higher. 

 

Only Hakan Calhanoglu (74) has made more key passes than De Paul (65) in Serie A this season, while 18 clear-cut chances created is more than any other player in Europe's top five leagues in 2020/21. As one might expect, Udinese boast a weakness of 'finishing scoring chances' with Luca Gotti's side the third lowest scorers in Italy's top tier having struck just 30 times, so De Paul should have more than five assists to his name. 

 

 

As Udinese's main creator, De Paul is also their primary ball carrier from midfield. Featuring on the right of a midfield three in Gotti's favoured 3-5-2, the aim is to get the Argentina international on the ball as quickly as possible and allow him to progress while in possession. De Paul's 92 successful dribbles is the fourth best in Europe's top five leagues this season, and he glides through opponents like a hot knife through butter with relative ease. 

 

A dribble success rate of 70.8% is an impressive return for a player in his position, and one who will be targetted each and every gameweek. Unsurprisingly, De Paul (97) is the fourth most fouled player in Europe's top five leagues this season, but he doesn't let this deter him from charging up field to hurt opponents. 

 

There is also De Paul's range of passing that has caught the eye this season. When he is in the position to pry apart a backline, De Paul does this well, with his five accurate through balls bettered only by Torino striker Andrea Belotti (6). Yet even when the Udinese captain is unable to get forward, he can spread the play to help open another avenue of attack, or play a more direct approach to create chances for teammates. 

 

Only Matteo Ricci (123) and Manuel Locatelli (121) have made more accurate long balls than De Paul (113) of all midfielders in Serie A this season, with the Zebrette ace able to get his head up when he has time and space to pick out an Udinese player. Yet even off the ball, De Paul has shown a willingness to get stuck in to rid opponents of possession and put in the hard graft for Udinese. 

 

1.3 tackles per 90 is not to be scoffed at for a player whose best quality is his ability to create chances, and ranks seventh of all Udinese regulars in Serie A this season. On top of that, he has won possession in the midfield third 88 times this season, that the 10th best return in Italy's top tier. For a hard-working side like Leeds, then, it's no wonder Bielsa was keen to land De Paul last summer and why the Whites remain interested in signing the attacker. 

 

This, though, is an area that can be improved upon, and a side to his game that would likely be worked on by Bielsa, and having been dribbled past 1.3 times per 90 this season, De Paul would need to do more off the ball in order to justify the pursuit of his services. 

 

That being said, the pros very much outweigh the cons. De Paul looks increasingly like a big fish in a small pond in Udine and, approaching his peak years, the chance to test himself in another of Europe's top leagues is deserving, as is the opportunity to regularly challenge for silverware. Whether he moves to Leeds or elsewhere - Liverpool and Inter have both been credited with an interest in De Paul - there should be a mad scramble for his services when the time comes for Udinese will sell their prized asset.

Who is Rodrigo De Paul? The creative maestro still wanted by Leeds