Gaetano Berardi has told BBC Radio Leeds that he feels sympathy for his old Leeds United teammates after the club suffered relegation to the Championship – sending his love to the players he used to play alongside at Elland Road.
Leeds are now preparing for an immediate return to the Premier League from the Championship after Sunday’s 4-1 loss to Tottenham – which ended their three-year stint in the top tier. Numerous players are expected to depart.
A summer huge change is upon us at Leeds, with the club the subject of a potential takeover. Andrea Radrizzani is not currently the most-popular figure in Yorkshire, after using Elland Road as a security in his Sampdoria purchase.
A replacement for Victor Orta and a big turnaround in players is expected. Leeds icon Berardi spoke to BBC Radio Leeds after he himself confirmed his retirement this week, and urged his old teammates to help a promotion push.
“I don’t want to forget the people who are still there, my old teammates. Because, they are great people, they are great guys and I know they are suffering in the last period. So I want to send my love to them,” Berardi said.
“To my old teammates and to all the people because this time is not the best. But they have to come back and push again,” Berardi continued, in a snippet of an interview with BBC Radio Leeds published on Twitter on Thursday.
Gaetano Berardi feels sympathy for old Leeds teammates after relegation
In the midst of such despair among the fanbase – largely because of relegation, and Radrizzani’s behaviour over the last week – it is nice to hear Berardi speak about Leeds. A player that Leeds fans loved for his passion, and love.
It is expected that Berardi will go into coaching, having retired. His last season in professional football came with second-tier Swiss side AC Bellinzona, in which he clocked up 30 league games. But at 34, he has hung up his boots.
Receive a digest of our best Leeds content each week direct to your mailbox
