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Castles: Leeds project not for Allegri
Leeds United surprised the football world when they landed Marcelo Bielsa as their new manager in 2019.
Two years later and promotion to the Championship has proved that to be a really savvy move.
Leeds and Bielsa are now synonymous but the club has ambitions.
They were laid out in a huge statement to the football world after it was reported that they had approached former Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri to replace Bielsa if he leaves this summer.
That story was broken by Duncan Castles in the Times and he provided a further update on the latest episode of The Transfer Window podcast.
In it, he detailed Allegri’s response to the approach from Leeds.
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Castles said, “It doesn’t look like Allegri will be convinced in this case. The information I have from people close to him is that an approach was made, but it didn’t particularly excite him.
“He’s waiting for one of the biggest jobs in world football. He wants a club at the very top level who he can win the Champions League with.”
Major players
In the Times report, Mauricio Pochettino and Julen Lopetegui were said to be on the shortlist as well.
This is where Leeds see themselves at the moment and, as MOT Leeds News columnist Paul Robinson said, it’s a huge statement of intent.
Leeds might not be at the level to win the Champions League yet but Radrizzani is aiming for the stars. Going for one of the best managers in the world is proof.
We think that Bielsa is likely to extend his contract with Leeds for another season and that will hopefully see Leeds take another step closer back to European’s top table.
With the other two newly-promoted sides struggling in the Premier League and looking like they’re heading back down, fans should be thrilled both by what Leeds have achieved and where they see the club in the future.
It might not be with Allegri – for now – but in Andrea Radrizzani we have an owner who won’t stop in his quest to make the club the very best it can possibly be.
In other Leeds United news, Leeds loanee sends big message to Bielsa as goals continue to flow in new position