Thread by @apopey

L’Equipe have an article today: “Why French attacker Georginio Rutter is worth up to 40m euros”

Bound for #lufc , who seem ready to pay nearly 40m euros, Hoffenheim’s French attacker Gio Rutter is, at 20 yrs old, on his way to becoming one of the most expensive buys this winter

(L’Equipe) He's little known in France, but the U21 International is however a promising young French attacker. #lufc

It was an evening in March 2018. The spring had barely begun to show its face in Montaigu, Vendee, but the cold weather hadn’t deterred a few hundred spectators from showing up to the annual spectacle – the u16 international tournament.#lufc

Many young starlets have appeared there, from Cristiano Ronaldo to Kyliam Mbappe. That day, France were facing Haiti, and besides the gap between the two sides – France had won 8-1 – one player stood out from the crowd- Gio Rutter. #lufc

At the time, the youngest player ever to sign as a pro with Rennes
Brought on for the last half-an-hour in a shuffled-around team, the Rennes forward put the finishing otuches on the heavy win, scoring a brace. #lufc

But above all, always one step ahead, he gave the impression of playing like an adult when up against his peers from the academies. #lufc

This impression quickly materialised – that same year, Rutter became the youngest ever player to sign pro with Rennes, at 16 years old (a record since beaten by Eduardo Camavinga). #lufc

4 years later, Rutter, 20, is coming close to beating a new record – Leeds’ all-time transfer record, with the club at the point of paying upto 40m euros (28 euros + 12m in easily obtainable bonuses) to bring in the Hoffenheim-contracted attacker. #lufc

A sum which might surprise a few in France, less so in Germany where the U21 international has become one of the youngest Bundesliga starters in his position. #lufc

Between his gradual integration into the pro group, in 2019, and his departure, in Feb 2021, Rutter waited for a long time to rack up gametime at Rennes. #lufc

But Julien Stephan, his coach at the time, preferred other young players that were more tested. Mere slices of action came his way (63 mins in 3 years), though that didn’t stop him from standing out by scoring his 1st goal as a pro – in the CL via a penalty, against Sevilla (1-3)

At the time, many European clubs had noticed his potential and Hoffenheim signed him for around 1million euros, with 6 months left to run on his deal.
Scoring with his second touch in the Bundesliga #lufc

His experience in Germany started with a bang when, on 21st Feb, he scored with his 2nd touch v Werder Bremen (4-0). What followed happened in linear fashion. On the wing or often up top, Rutter rapidly became indispensable for Hoffenheim. #lufc

In his first full season – 21/22 – he played 33 out of 34 Bundesliga matches, chipping in with 8 goals. #lufc

“Very early on, he looked like a build-up attacker - technical and active in the creation of chances - and also a finisher. That’s unusual”, anaylses Jean Claude Giuntini, his old U16 to U18 coach. “He always wanted to learn, to do better, and quickly. #lufc

“He had the taste for making an effort, for running, for pressing the opponent when he has the ball.” A spirit much appreciated by fans and today by the Leeds management. #lufc

Best young dribbler in Europe

Not quite as key this season (2 goals, 2 key passes) in a team struggling in the league (11th), Rutter has stood out for his ability to dribble past people #lufc

– he has managed more dribbles in Europe than any other player under 21 (2.1 a match on average), ahead of Bellingham (Dortmund 2) and Martinelli (Arsenal, 1.8) #lufc

L’Equipe finish: Rutter will land in Leeds this Thursday evening. He must have his medical Friday, which is the foreword to the signing of a 5 and a half year contract, the last stage of a 40m transfer. That of a player with a new status. #lufc