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Leeds United: Fans hope Championship side part ways with 2020-free agent Gaetano Berardi
Loads of Leeds United supporters have been voicing their hope in the West Yorkshire outfit parting ways with Gaetano Berardi, who is out of contract next summer.
Berardi moved to Elland Road from Italian side Sampdoria in the summer of 2014, and has amassed 137 appearances for the Championship outfit across all competitions (TransferMarkt).
His versatility in being a defender capable of playing on either side as well as in his natural central role has been a key benefit utilised by every manager to have taken control of United during Berardi’s time at the club, but he has begun to lose part of his cult hero status.
Some of the fans voicing their hope in this being the 31-year-old’s final season at their side have noted his disciplinary record and tendency to be a liability as justification of parting ways. Supporters have heavily pointed to his involvement in Derby County eliminating Marcelo Bielsa’s men from the Championship Play-Offs last season, as well, as he saw red in the Semi-Finals second leg.
Those keen to see the back of Berardi may yet get their wishes granted, as Leeds are not understood to have opened contract negotiations with the one-time Switzerland international (The Athletic).
Berardi is said to be the only member of Leeds’ senior squad out of contract next summer to have yet held talks over extending their time at the club, while Stuart Dallas, Mateusz Klich and Pablo Hernandez have all held discussions at some stage of the current campaign.
If Leeds are open to his departure, they could look to cash-in come the winter market opening, but would be unlikely to receive a grand fee for the experienced defender, valued at £450,000 by TransferMarkt.
Loads of United supporters hope their side do not retain Berardi’s services, though…
Should’ve gone in the summer after his play off atrocities!!
— Paul Bexon (@BeckoLeeds) October 10, 2019
Simply not good enough.While his red card was a joke,his positional play to let the millwall forward get goal side of him was so poor.
— Colin McGrath (@colin17_colin) October 10, 2019
Hopefully no new deal is offered. Cannot he trusted and quite simply not good enough for what we need.
— Super Wain (@SuperWain) October 10, 2019
Out… the red card in the playoffs was the last straw.
— gary carroll (@gazzii88) October 10, 2019
Cannot fault Berardi for effort. If we really believe we are a top two team he simply isn’t good enough and he has to leave and be replaced with a quality defender. Over to Radz on that.
— Pat McGatt (@Prolethreat) October 10, 2019
8 red cards, limited ability and a ‘utility’ player at best. Hardly gonna be breaking the door down to keep him are we.
— MMLUFC (@Michael46041497) October 10, 2019
If common sense prevails, it will. The guy’s a complete liability.
— David Beaumont (@davidglen23) October 10, 2019
Get a few quid for him in January if we can and get a centre half who can actually be relied on as back up in the door, has to happen!
— Eamonn (@etmcg78) October 10, 2019
Wouldn’t waste time on negotiating a new deal, there’s a lot better out there
— Andy Firth (@AndrewFirth21) October 10, 2019
I like Berra tbh, but I think his days are numbered at Leeds. Only here to fill in at CB when we have injuries, he wouldnt feature otherwise. Gone from appearing 25-30 times a season to 15 last year and 6 so far this year. Think this will be his last season in a Leeds kit #lufc
— Josh Holden (@JoshuaHolden93) October 10, 2019
Get him gone!!
— Matt Hill (@MattyHill83) October 10, 2019
Hope we pay him off in January
— Jord (@JordanBrown91) October 10, 2019
