Leeds United have a new co-owner in Andrea Radrizzani.
Leeds United’s new co-owner Andrea Radrizzani has told The Mirror that he spoke to Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish about the Elland Road club way back in April 2016.
Leeds have enjoyed a superb season on the pitch so far, as Garry Monk has turned the club into legitimate contenders for promotion back to the Premier League for the first time since their relegation in 2004.
The Whites sit third in the Championship table after Friday’s 1-0 home win over Derby County, and they’re now just six points off an automatic promotion spot, with five wins in the last six games giving fans real hope of a push for the top two.
General view inside Elland Road
Off the pitch, it’s been a fairly mixed bag. Massimo Cellino’s controversy continued with an 18-month ban from all football activities having been found guilty of breaching agent regulations (The Guardian), but better news arrived earlier this month.
Italian media mogul Andrea Radrizzani bought a 50% stake in the club which could become 100% in the summer, and he’ll be hoping to see a promotion to the Premier League in his first few months at Elland Road.
Phil Thompson and Kenny Dalglish (L)
Now, Radrizzani has discussed his decision to invest in Leeds, revealing to The Mirror that he actually spoke to Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish about the club way back in April 2016.
Radrizzani stated that he spoke to Dalglish before Manchester City’s Champions League quarter-final clash with Paris Saint-Germain last season, and the Scot raved about Leeds’ potential.
According to Radrizzani, Dalglish suggested that Leeds was a ‘great opportunity’ for somebody with a real vision for the club, whilst he also mentioned how passionate Leeds is as a city, and just weeks later, he learned of a potential opportunity at Elland Road.
“I was invited to a lunch in Manchester before the quarter-final of the Champions League between Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain, and I met Kenny,” said Radrizzani. “He wasn’t easy to understand, but I did! We talked about Leeds, the sleeping giant. He mentioned it was a great opportunity if someone had a concrete project with a vision to bring back the passion.”
“He mentioned about how the city is passionate about the club, and this is what I’m finding out. Maybe he told me this because he knew that I couldn’t buy Liverpool! A few weeks later, I was talking about different clubs and someone mentioned Leeds. That’s when I got in touch with Massimo,” he added.
Are you excited about Leeds’ future with Radrizzani on board?
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