Speaking to Football Insider, former Leeds United striker Noel Whelan has hinted that Gaetano Berardi may well leave Elland Road this summer if the club don’t offer him a new deal – with the pundit stating that clubs would ‘actually queue‘ for the defender.
Berardi, who has debatably been a brilliant servant for the club over these last few seasons, making 150 appearances for Leeds since signing from Sampdoria in 2014 (Transfermarkt), could be shown the exit door this summer after years of service. The Swiss defender, who has started just 11 games this campaign (WhoScored), is currently on the fringes of Marcelo Bielsa’s plans – with fellow squad members Luke Ayling, Liam Cooper and Ben White seemingly prioritised in defence.
Even amidst the current EFL suspension, speculation still mounts over his future in Yorkshire, with ex-club forward Whelan claiming he’ll have plenty of suitors if he does leave.
“He might want to play regular football,” explained Whelan to Football Insider. “That’s the decision he’s got to make – a bit-part player with the first-team if they go up into the Premier League or full-time, week in, week out, be one of the main men at a very good, middling Championship side.
“There are going to be teams who would actually queue for him – he’s such a reliable character, always gives everything in the game, he’s a good role model.
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“Yes, he’s got a bit of a temperament there but I would not want to take that out of him because that would not be the Berardi that we love.”
Indeed, based off his fairly solid Leeds record of outings before the 2018/2019 season, Whelan may have a point when he hints that Berardi would be a man in demand.
After-all, not every lower league player has as much Championship experience as the 31-year-old.
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