Reliable journalist details whether Leeds are yet to open contract talks with Berardi
Leeds United are yet to open talks with Gaetano Berardi’s contract with the defender approaching the end of his current deal, according to The Athletic journalist Phil Hay.
Berardi, 31, has been on the books at Elland Road longer than any other player after arriving from Sampdoria in July 2014.
He has since made 148 appearances in all competitions for Leeds but it seems as though the clock could be ticking on his time in West Yorkshire based on Hay’s latest report.
“There is literally only Gaetano Berardi amongst the senior crop whose contract expires this summer (with no sign of talks about an extension at this stage),” said the former Yorkshire Evening Post journalist on The Athletic website.
Berardi is a firm fan favourite at Elland Road.
He is by no means the best defender that Marcelo Bielsa has at his disposal and he has been responsible for some pretty baffling moments in his spell at the club.
However there is no questioning that Berardi is a player who wears his heart on his sleeve and would run through brick walls for Leeds United Football Club.
If he leaves in the summer then he will be missed but there is no denying that the Whites have moved on, in terms of quality, from players like the Swiss defender.
Still, he remains a useful member of Bielsa’s squad, filling in whenever there are injuries in the defence due to his ability to play at centre-back and full-back.
Bielsa left Berardi out of his matchday squad for the win against Reading on Saturday but hopefully there are still opportunities for the ex-Sampdoria defender to put his body on the line for the club – as he has done so often.
In other Leeds United news, Kalvin Phillips has dubbed this player a “tank” after the win over Reading.