David Prutton has suggested that Leeds supporters have been way too aggressive in their criticism of defender Giuseppe Bellusci.
The 27-year-old was involved in a heated confrontation with a number of Whites fans at their friendly fixture with Guiseley last weekend – and Prutton has labelled the vitriol coming from the stands as “outright abuse”.
Italian news outlet Tutto Mercato Web has recently reported that Bellusci is likely to be willing to terminate his contract at Elland Road in order to force through a move to Greek top-flight side PAOK.
He was sent out on loan to Empoli in Serie A last season, but has since returned to Leeds after failing to secure a permanent move away from the club and was handed a chance to impress in pre-season fixtures by Thomas Christiansen, who has since confirmed that the Italian defender will leave this summer.
Prutton, who spent three years as a Leeds player before leaving in 2010, has hinted that he feels some sympathy towards Bellusci after recent events.
“It’s hard not to feel sorry for a lad alongside you who’s genuinely trying their best but failing to win the public over,” wrote Prutton, 35, in his column on the Yorkshire Evening Post website.
“Giuseppe Bellusci might see himself in that way but his situation at Leeds United is different. The antipathy between him and some of club’s supporters goes well beyond the fact that they don’t rate him as a footballer.
“This is personal – or to put it simply, a case where many of the fans simply don’t like him – and in those circumstances a club only have one choice.
“Criticism is criticism. What Bellusci got at Guiseley on Saturday was outright abuse.”
Bellusci has a very public fall out with former Whites boss Steve Evans two years ago, and even took to Twitter to argue that he should be included in first-team matters despite having a poor discipline record.
The Italian centre-back has made a total of 61 appearances for Leeds, scoring two goals.