‘Blood of a Leeds United player’ – Andrea Radrizzani offers rare opinion on Whites 'leader' - YEP 25/9/22
Chairman Andrea Radrizzani features in the new Amazon Prime Video series ‘Academy Dreams: Leeds United’
By Joe Donnohue
Leeds United chairman Andrea Radrizzani is caught on camera
offering his verdict on young centre-back Charlie Cresswell in Academy Dreams:
Leeds United.
The Italian is filmed conversing with director of football
Victor Orta at a city centre hotel as the pair discuss the club’s blossoming
academy prospects at Thorp Arch.
As majority shareholder of Leeds United, Radrizzani is not
involved in the day-to-day running of the club at Thorp Arch on the training
and organisation side of things.
However, splitting his time between Yorkshire, London and
Milan, Radrizzani does often cast an eye over the club’s players at various
fixtures throughout the season.
During Episode Four of the new series, titled ‘Fight Back’,
Radrizzani says: “I enjoy a lot watching the Under-23s this year.”
"Initially, obviously I got a bit upset when we lose
games especially in a silly way but then I start to don’t care anymore about
the results and I don’t even check the table – I just enjoy watching them and I
don’t care if we lose or win because they play always very offensive football.”
Director of football Victor Orta chimes in, discussing last
season’s Under-23 captain Charlie Cresswell: “For me, Cresswell has the blood
of a Leeds United player. He’s a leader.”
Radrizzani agrees, before admitting: “At 19 [years old], he
talks like more mature than me. He really is a leader.”
Cresswell made five Premier League appearances last year and
this season has been signed on a season-long loan by Championship side
Millwall.
The England Under-21 international has featured frequently
for the Lions and there remains hope at Leeds that Cresswell can one day become
a first-team regular at Elland Road, especially among the fans.
Radrizzani’s opinion in the public domain is rare, as the
chairman’s thoughts on individual players are usually reserved for those
sharing his company in the directors’ box.
The club rewarded Cresswell with a new long-term contract at
the beginning of last season which runs until June 2025.
