Centre-back Giuseppe Bellusci will not be returning to Leeds this summer following the end of his loan deal at Empoli, according to BBC journalist Adam Pope.
The 27-year-old defender spent the season on loan at the Serie A club, but Empoli’s relegation threw his future into some doubt with many believing he may be returning to the Yorkshire giants with his contract set to last until the summer of 2018.
However, Pope has now revealed on his personal Twitter account on Tuesday afternoon that a source close to Bellusci has told that the Italian will not be returning to the United Kingdom and that they are now trying to sort a deal “best for both parties.”
Leeds United defender Giuseppe Bellusci will not be returning to Elland Road to see out the final year of his contract. #LUFC pic.twitter.com/PODVQPDVt5
— Adam Pope (@apopey) June 6, 2017
A source close to Bellusci says "He will not be coming back to the UK & we hope to sort out a deal that is best for both parties." #LUFC
— Adam Pope (@apopey) June 6, 2017
Bellusci joined Leeds in the summer of 2014 from Italian side Catania for a fee worth around £1.6million.
He struggled to adapt to Championship football and a number of high-profile mistakes from the defender saw growing unrest from supporters, while he also reportedly had a training ground falling out with then manager Steve Evans.
He then missed the start of Leeds’ pre-season last summer for “personal reasons” before heading to Empoli, where he played in 33 Serie A matches in the last campaign.
It is now likely that Bellusci will return to an Italian side permanently after playing in 61 matches in total for Leeds.