Former Leeds United chief blasts Andrea Radrizzani after ‘dangerous’ Elland Road ownership
Former Leeds United owner Massimo Cellino has blasted Andrea Radrizzani after his “dangerous” spell at Elland Road.
The latter took full ownership of the Whites at the end of the 2016/17 season, but has since sold his stake in the club to 49ers Enterprises.
The former meanwhile owned Leeds before Radrizzani, with the Italian duo co-owning the Elland Road outfit for six months.
“I thought it was in his interest to carry on together,” Cellino told the Daily Mail (1 December). “But he wanted to buy all the club. He did it and then after two months he sent me a message saying, ‘I made a big mistake, I have been such a fool.’
“You know, when someone is short, they like to show they are stronger. They like to win all the time. Sometimes you have to draw. You have to accept that someone is better than you and try to get along.
“We had one price to buy the 50 per cent in the Championship and a different price in the Premier League. So in his mind he said, ‘It’s better if we don’t go up because I take the 50 per cent for less money and the year after I go straight up. It’s very easy.’
“But they don’t know football. He sold everyone, because Andrea liked to sell and buy players. Football is not that. That’s why I call them amateurs. They are dangerous. I think he tried to do good but he wasn’t good enough to run Leeds.”
No holding back
Leeds certainly had their issues with owners over the years, with that statement true of the times under both Cellino and Radrizzani.
Fans of the Elland Road club will, of course, be desperate for those behind-the-scenes issues to be put to bed under 49ers Enterprises.
That, however, remains to be seen, although things on the pitch have at least calmed down somewhat under the guidance of manager Daniel Farke.
The boss had plenty to deal with when he arrived at Elland Road in the summer, primarily dealing with player exits after the club’s relegation from the Premier League.
But the German managed to keep hold of some key players as well as bring in others, which has helped the Whites rise to third in the league table after an understandable shaky start.
Promotion back to the Premier League will be his main aim this season, but strong starts from Leicester City and Ipswich Town mean Leeds already face an uphill battle.
In other Leeds United news, a journalist has shared a fresh Whites stance on the compensation case with Everton after their 10-point deduction.