Giuseppe Bellusci is on the verge of quitting Leeds United – and fans on Twitter are delighted to see the back of him.
Sky Sports Italy correspondent Gianluca Di Marzio has claimed on his personal website, which was later corroborated by the Yorkshire Evening Post, that Bellusci has agreed to terminate his Leeds contract a year early.
Di Marzio reports that Bellusci will sever his ties with the club he joined three years ago in order to become a free agent and secure a move to another club.
Italian second-tier club Cremonese and Novara are keeping close tabs on the centre-back but his most likely destination is Greek big hitters PAOK.
The benefit to Bellusci of being a free agent is the buying club will not have to pay a transfer fee to take on his registration, while Leeds will ease their financial burden without his salary on their payroll.
Supporters of the Championship giants expressed universal delight on social media that the controversial defender is set to end his association with the club.
This Is Futbol has rounded up some of the best tweets:
If only. Coming so fast on the heels of the Bellusci termination news, we’ve been royally spoilt.
— Adam J (@Ken_DeMange) July 17, 2017
Bellusci’s gone, we’re on the cans #lufc
— I.F.H.L (@IFHLUnited) July 17, 2017
Bellusci has terminated his contract and left .. be nice to now move on and give the players that are here our full focus and backing #lufc
— DavidK (@DavidKershaw7) July 17, 2017
What’s all this stuff about us terminating Bellusci’s contract … If so many clubs want him let them bid for him #lufc
— Mark Meadows (@Weatherman1965) July 17, 2017
Just waiting for Bellusci to tweet now #lufc
— David (@BilliardsCue) July 17, 2017
Thank you…..and goodbye. #lufc #bellusci pic.twitter.com/4jQfOiyy6l
— Terry O’ Brien (@tobtipp) July 17, 2017
only good thing to take out of today is Bellusci is leaving #lufc
— Armo #NH69???????? (@Jordan_Armo) July 17, 2017
Bellusci, 27, has been strongly linked with a permanent exit from Leeds after spending last season on loan at Empoli but their relegation from Serie A put paid to his hopes of a permanent transfer.
He briefly returned to Leeds after being granted an extended summer break to find a new club but was jeered by supporters during a pre-season friendly nine days ago.
Manager Thomas Christiansen revealed last week that Bellusci was no longer part of his thinking for the first team as he made it clear the player would not play in a Leeds shirt again.