'It was important': Andrea Radrizzani now shares how he honestly feels about Leeds United after leaving — Leeds United News 22/11/23
Will Butcher
Andrea Radrizzani has admitted that he made “many mistakes”
while Leeds United’s majority owner before leaving Elland Road in the summer
after relegation – but thinks he saved us, after taking over.
Radrizzani was announced as Sampdoria’s new owner pretty
immediately after selling up at Leeds, the 49ers taking control of the club. It
ended a six-year stint, after taking over from Massimo Cellino in 2017.
Leeds were not financially brilliant when he took over,
largely due to Cellino’s strange approach to using manager after manager, the
ever-revolving door of players. Radrizzani immediately brought calmness.
He bought back Elland Road, and alongside Victor Orta,
masterminded the decision to bring in Marcelo Bielsa. But dodgy signings,
strange outbursts on Twitter, sacking Bielsa and more saw Leeds fans turn.
He topped it off, by jetting off to Sampdoria to buy the
club on the weekend Leeds were about to be relegated. Like he’d escaped.
Reports say he tried to use Elland Road as collateral in buying Sampdoria.
Something which Radrizzani denies but again, it diminished
his relationship with fans. After a poor start at Sampdoria, Andrea Pirlo is
turning things around. He certainly saved the Serie B club in the summer.
Sampdoria needed investment and basically a takeover, or
faced points deductions and administration. He got a deal over the line. Now,
he has spoken about Leeds, his mistakes, but also saving the Whites.
“I always said that in life I am attracted to a challenge,
so just like it was for Leeds, I decided to help Matteo Manfredi to save
Sampdoria from a situation that was close to bankruptcy,” Radrizzani said.
“It ended on a bitter note, but it was important for my
professional growth. I did good things there, but also many mistakes and I hope
to learn from them,” he added at the DLA Piper Sport Forum in Milan.
