Leeds United are thriving in the Championship under Marcelo Bielsa – but Andrea Radrizzani initially wanted former Chelsea manager Antonio Conte.
If anyone doubted the genius of Marcelo Bielsa, just watch Leeds United’s second goal in their 2-0 win against Rotherham on Saturday.
The most typical of Bielsa goals started, as you might expect, with Leeds playing the ball out from the back with precision and style. Then, in the blinking of an eye, Kalvin Phillips released Kemar Roofe with a pinpoint pass and The Whites’ number seven finished clinically after a brilliant first touch.
Leeds have won four out of four under the 62-year-old Argentine, they’ve established themselves as early title favourites and, all the while, are playing some of the best football seen at Elland Road in years.
So it might be a surprise to learn that Bielsa wasn’t owner Andrea Radrizzani’s first choice.
“I do not deny that I made an attempt for Antonio Conte, I have a weakness for him,” Radrizzani told Gazzetta Dello Sport.
“I’d have offered 20 million too.
“Then there was an interview with Claudio Ranieri, an exquisite person. (He was) flattered by our interest but at that moment he declined.”
Italian duo Conte and Ranieri won the Premier League title with Chelsea and Leicester in 2017 and 2016 respectively. Interestingly, Radrizzani has also admitted his interest in the highly-rated Juventus forward Andrea Favilli, who Gianluca di Marzio claims is valued at £17.5 million.
“It was a real interest in Favilli. We had been following him for two years, a potentially very strong player who could do very well in England. But for the promotion we chose experienced players”.
Conte and Favilli would certainly have caught the eye. But Leeds are doing alright at the moment with Bielsa calling the shots and Roofe up top.
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