George Overhill

Fri 21 April 2023 16:40, UK

Andrea Radrizzani is in line for a “good deal” with a £350million profit on the cards to sell Leeds United and pursue a move for Inter, says Kieran Maguire.

Despite describing the business practices in Italian football as “challenging” the finance expert believes the Whites chief would see it as worth it to sacrifice the riches of the Premier League for a route into Europe with the Serie A giants.

Assuming Leeds United stay in the Premier League and the 49ers Enterprises takeover goes through for as much as £450million, Maguire also doesn’t believe that Inter winning the Champions League would put a deal out of reach for the Elland Road chairman and majority owner – they face Milan rivals AC in the semi final.

Speaking on The Price of Football podcast the University of Liverpool lecturer said (20 April, 42m 15s): “He’s looking to acquire Inter Milan which is another club you’d say is very similar to Leeds in a sense, huge fanbase, iconic club, good history and so on.”

Asked by co-host Kevin Day if Inter winning the Champions League would price Radrizzani out Maguire said: “I don’t think so… The important thing is to appear in the Champions League on a regular basis and for a club like Inter that is, I think, an expectation as far as the fans are concerned, so I don’t see that as being a huge issue.”

Citing prize money, the Super Cup, and the World Club Cup he added: “There are lots of potential positives to come from this which will certainly tick up the price but it won’t necessarily put it out of contention as far as Mr Radrizzani is concerned.”

When Day asked if the chairman wouldn’t make more money staying at Leeds Maguire answered: “Inter Milan have that entry route into Europe, which Leeds don’t have, certainly at present, and he will have bought Leeds for £100million and potentially sell it for £400million-£450million, so from his perspective it’s a good deal.”

Win win

If Radrizzani, rightly or wrongly, isn’t the man to fund the next stage of the Leeds United development then the club needs new ownership.

And if he is getting a good deal out of things then everyone walks away happy. Even if some fans might find it unsatisfying for him to bank a huge profit given the wringer they’ve been put through in the past couple of seasons it is ultimately no surprise having taken over a Championship outfit.

Some will never forgive the Italian for sacking the mastermind of the return to the Premier League in Marcelo Bielsa, and if Javi Gracia can’t keep the Whites in the top flight he is going to see that profit largely disappear.

It really does appear to be in everyone’s interests for the sale to get done this summer as a Premier League side, even if it means scraping to safety by their barest of margins.

The Whites were supposed to kick on having done just that a year ago, but we are all back in the same boat this time around with yet another manager in the dug out.

Regime change isn’t guaranteed to be a positive long-term, as Everton fans, and now Chelsea supporters, can testify to, but it certainly feels like Radrizzani’s reign has run its course and he has his eyes on new prizes in his home country.

In other Leeds United news, the risk of a potential fire sale at Elland Road has seen Newcastle lock focus onto a new Whites target.