Leeds United owner Andrea Radrizzani has welcomed Indonesian tycoon Erick Thohir to Elland Road on Twitter after striking up an intriguing partnership.
Former Inter Milan owner and president Thohir – founder of media company Mahaka Group – joined the board of League One strugglers Oxford United earlier this month after severing his ties with the Italian giants.
The businessman uploaded an image on his Instagram account that showed him holding aloft a Leeds shirt with Radrizzani, who sent a message to him on his personal Twitter account saying “looking forward to have you at Elland Road next year”.
Great to see you @erickthohir ?? looking forward to have you at Elland Road next year pic.twitter.com/22T0zx22zQ
— Andrea Radrizzani (@andrearadri) November 22, 2018
OPINION
Mystery surrounds the partnership struck up between Thohir and Radrizzani. Has the Leeds owner agreed to sell a stake in the Yorkshire giants to the Indonesian multi-millionaire? Or have they settled another business arrangement that could benefit Leeds? Or, perhaps Oxford – where Thohir joined the board on 8 November – have merely been invited to Elland Road for a pre-season friendly? Certainly, they won’t be heading to the stadium to play a competitive match next year as they are marooned in 20th in League One, while United are setting their sights on promotion from the Championship. Thohir is a well-connected businessman with fingers in plenty of sporting pies. He owns Major League Soccer club DC United, where Wayne Rooney is dazzling following his summer move, and had a stake in basketball side Philadelphia 76ers. He was also the majority shareholder of Inter for five years before leaving the board last month. Some clarity from Radrizzani and Thohir might be useful.