The journalist who co-wrote an explosive Leeds United story about Andrea Radrizzani potentially selling the club this summer has hit back at the owner’s savage Twitter criticism.
As the row escalated, Daily Mail correspondent Laurie Whitwell has denied Radrizzani’s claim the article is “nonsense”, insisting it is “meticulously researched”, adding the further swipe, “as I’m sure you know, really”.
He also claimed he is eager to take the Italian businessman up on his offer of a meeting at “a date of your choosing”.
Thanks for the invite Andrea, happy to take you up on that on a date of your choosing. If you look at mine and Craig’s reporting history you will see we do not write ‘nonsense’. We have meticulously researched this article, as I’m sure you know really ?? https://t.co/yfJtcTusjD
— Laurie Whitwell (@lauriewhitwell) February 26, 2019
And who is the ones who are behind but seriously we don’t have time and energies for your mind games. We have more important daily biz to care in @ElevenSports (profitable and successful in most to the markets in 3.5 years!) and @LUFC . Good luck to sell few more papers
— Andrea Radrizzani (@andrearadri) February 25, 2019
OPINION
One thing is for certain. The Mail and their journalists are standing by the explosive article that Radrizzani has attempted to bury with his claim it is “nonsense” and written purely to destabilise the club during their promotion search. That said, the Leeds owner’s denial is only a vague one, and does not dispute any specific claims in the story, such as the possibility of a sale if they fail to win promotion, a fire-sale of key playing assets, the stall of contract talks with stars and the uncertain future of Marcelo Bielsa. The likelihood is that Radrizzani doesn’t deny them because he probably can’t. The British arm of his Eleven Sports streaming service is struggling, and the trickledown effect of this is that Leeds may be set for yet more upheaval behind the scenes. The Mail are certainly not to everyone’s taste, but they have a sound reputation for breaking football news stories and delivering real insight. It’s unlikely the details in the explosive report are anything other than well sourced.