Leeds United takeover update: Talk at Elland Road Andrea Radrizzani has already made final appearance amid week in Italy – Phil Hay
There was speculation at Elland Road during Andrea Radrizzani’s appearance at the Leeds United defeat by Newcastle that it was the Italian’s final appearance at a game, according to Phil Hay.
The Whites owner has been in Italy all week pursuing a deal to rescue Sampdoria, The Athletic journalist points out, and there has not been word as to whether he will be present at the stadium for the final day game against Tottenham where the club could be relegated.
Angus Kinnear is expected to be there, while long-time visible presence Victor Orta will not after he left as Javi Gracia was sacked, and it could be that the exit-bound owner won’t be seen at Elland Road again either.
Asked who would be in the directors’ box at Elland Road on The Phil Hay Show (26 May, 40m 20s) Hay answered: “Well, Kinnear will be there, I’m pretty sure. Radrizzani? Well, he’s spent all week in Italy. He was at the Newcastle game.
“There was a bit of chat around Elland Road actually during the Newcastle game about whether or not that would be the last time he was there.
“I haven’t been told if he is definitely going at the weekend, I’m not entirely sure. It goes without saying that if it doesn’t work out for Leeds it’s got the potential to get pretty toxic and be a bit flammable, the whole occasion.”
Unhappy goodbye
In some ways there is probably little to be gained by Radrizzani being present, as he will undoubtedly be the target of the fans’ ire at what he has presided over if relegation is confirmed, and is hardly going to get any praise if it is escaped.
His public occupation with chasing the Sampdoria deal in the week leading up to a crucial game isn’t the greatest look even if he has been engaged in Leeds United business remotely, especially as Hay believes there is still, as yet, no agreement with 49ers Enterprises about what happens if the club goes down.
So while some might suggest it is the Italian’s duty to be present for what could easily be the last Premier League game at Elland Road for the foreseeable future, if he is on the brink of an exit either way it might be best avoided.
Whatever happens on Sunday (28 May) in West Yorkshire, results elsewhere mean it seems somewhere between certain and pretty likely that the club will begin next season in a new division, with new owners, a new manager, a new director of football and a much-changed squad.
That is a measure of the dysfunction that has been allowed to develop in two years since the Marcelo Bielsa side stormed back into the top flight and finished ninth.
But at the same time, that it has already got to this point, such a blanket reset is probably exactly what the club needs.
Escaping relegation and being able to carry it out still in the Premier League would be an unexpected bonus, but Leeds United looks to be on the brink of a new era at the club in the near future one way or the other.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites have been backed to get a result against Spurs despite attempting and failing with a “ridiculous” gamble.