The 21-year-old joined Leeds from Hoffenheim in January for a club-record fee of up to £36 million (BBC Sport), but he has only managed one goal in 18 games.
And on Saturday, September 2, during the 0-0 draw with Sheffield Wednesday, his problems as one of the club’s greatest transfers in recent years reared their ugly heads once more.
But after a few days, the French player was captured in fresh video that the club shared on their Twitter account on Thursday (7 September) as he spent the day at Lineham Farm with the Leeds Children’s Charity.
Rutter was beaming as he spent the day with the kids, which seemed to indicate that despite his rough nine months at the club, he is adjusting to life at West Yorkshire better than most had anticipated.
Whether his involvement with the Children’s Charity was completely his choice or influenced by the clubs, it appears that Daniel Farke’s discussions with the uneasy striker following the Sheffield Wednesday setback have somewhat gotten him back into gear [Leeds Live, 4 September].
After the Sheffield Wednesday tie, Farke disclosed that he had spoken with Rutter. He said: “I was a striker too; you can’t really explain.
“There are times when it seems impossible to take advantage of your opportunities to score, and other times you only need to look at the ball and it goes in anyhow. It has the impression that Georginio is living in this era.
“However, I got on the phone with him and advised him to stop overanalyzing things. Don’t try to be too artificial in your approach if you find it tough to put the ball in the back of the net in a given situation.
Rutter, who was rumored to be leaving Elland Road during the summer transfer window [FR], will be eager to show that he merits a spot in the team as he attempts to score goals to support the club’s push for promotion this year.
With only one goal and an assist in 18 appearances, it hasn’t happened for him thus far in his tenure in West Yorkshire, but Farke’s message to the player definitely implies he and the club aren’t giving up on him.
In truth, most players simply can’t adjust to a new league and atmosphere in just nine months, therefore it would be foolish for the Whites to abandon their investment at such an early stage.
A player who is clearly enjoying life in West Yorkshire and who is still determined to take on new challenges—but more importantly—improve his situation at the club—can be seen in the two minutes of video uploaded by Leeds United.
Rutter established himself as one of Germany’s most promising young forward talents before his massive move to Elland Road, scoring 10 goals and dishing up four assists over the last two seasons in the German Bundesliga.
There were financial incentives for the Leeds United leadership to pay for his services, and there are other examples of players who have made such moves yet suffered in their first seasons before going on to thrive in time.
If the 49ers decided to give up on him at this point, it would be a complete waste. This new endeavor with the Leeds charity may provide Rutter all the support and assurance he needs to quickly establish himself as an Elland Road star.
