‘1million%’ – Many Leeds fans say the same thing after Phil Hay update on ‘Immense’ player
Leeds United fans have poured onto Twitter to urge the club to hand popular defender Gaetano Berardi a new contract.
The 31-year-old’s current deal is due to expire in the summer, which means that his six-year spell at Elland Road could be coming to an end.
However, according to The Athletic journalist Phil Hay, Marcelo Bielsa is happy to get Berardi tied down to fresh terms.
It is understood that while no offer has been tabled to the one-time Switzerland international, Leeds are willing to reach a new agreement if they can find a deal that suits all parties.
If the club is happy to hand Berardi a new contract and Bielsa is happy for him to stay for next season then there is a good chance that it will happen.
But one thing that has not been brought up is whether or not the player himself wants to stay at the club.
Berardi will celebrate his 32nd birthday in August and may think that his playing days are coming towards an end.
He might want to play as much and as often before the decision to retire is made and, at Leeds, he isn’t playing that much.
Yes, he’s made 20 appearances in all competitions this season but only 11 of them have been starts in the Championship and you would expect that number to decrease next term if Leeds are in the Premier League.
Ultimately, the decision could be down to Berardi and we would love to see him stay, as would a lot of Leeds fans who have made it clear they want the defender’s stay extended.
Here is a selection of their tweets:
https://twitter.com/calebg_2312/status/1240269744621662208
https://twitter.com/Jackm96x/status/1240267047453495298
In other Leeds United news, Manchester City want the Whites to sign this South American player on loan from them.