OPINION
It was never going to be a brilliant summer if Leeds didn’t get promoted but if supporters were holding out for a magic money tree, they had their dream shattered by owner Andrea Radrizzani.
He confirmed that it would be a “difficult summer” for Leeds but added that they “have a great academy”.
His words – said during the FT Business in Football Summit in Mayfair on Tuesday were reported by BBC journalist Adam Pope, and they met with a mixed reaction from the fans.
Also speaking at the FT Business in Football Summit, Radrizzani said: “We’ll have to run a difficult summer in terms of the transfer market but we have a great academy.” #lufc
— Adam Pope (@apopey) May 22, 2019
Some slammed Radrizzani with one saying “This is why we’ll never go up” while others were quick to point out that you didn’t have to spend to go up, pointing to Norwich and Sheffield United this season.
The reality is that Leeds are losing money. And if one club knows everything about over-spending and gambling, it’s Leeds.
What Leeds do have, at the moment anyway, is a brilliant manager in Marcelo Bielsa. And Radrizzani (along with director of football Victor Orta) is responsible for that, so the harshest criticism seems unfair.
Missing out on Dan James will be hurting, as it’s been reported that man United are closing in on a £15m deal. He would have made a difference in the second-half of the season.
But he’s also proof that great players are out there that won’t cost and arm or a leg, or the sort of financial problems that Aston Villa faced after losing the play-off final last season.
Here are the best reactions from Leeds fans:
Oh god here we go again. All the top business men deciding our fate before anything's even happened. Mind readers & fortune tellers one and all. Just had the best season in a long time, not even half way through a 5 year plan but yeah, let's get rid of Radrizzani he's shit! #lufc
— Jo ? (@El_Loco_Jo) May 22, 2019
Norwich spent £5m and Sheff U spent £6m in the 18/9 season so it is not a question of big £££ transfers, but getting the right players in.
— Guy Bonello ?? (@Maltawhite) May 22, 2019
Oh dear decent loan signings then
— Rick Hartley ??????? ?? ??????? (@RickHartley64) May 22, 2019
https://twitter.com/yonyteboah/status/1131206241043271680
Empty wallet talk
— ESSJAY (@SteveJ4530) May 22, 2019
And that is why we will not go up this man is not the right man to take us up time to go!
— Ben (@ben_seldon) May 22, 2019
He needs to either invest or sell up, simply won’t get promoted next season if we stick to same strategy of being tight and not making decent investments
— c (@cr2734) May 22, 2019
https://twitter.com/Fozzy_Comp/status/1131206124483612673
End of the day @andrearadri you won’t get @LUFC promotion to the prem on the cheap i don’t care if sheff United have done it or Norwich have or the many other teams! The pressure at Leeds United is massive, which a lot of players cannot handle. This for me is why we need quality
— Ashton Stringer ?? (@ashsrtringer96) May 22, 2019
https://twitter.com/hinchliff_jack/status/1131213393128566784
https://twitter.com/jt_btc/status/1131205985572409344
Not liking that
— Tez ( GETTR , tezza7 , @tezza7) (@Tez81480387) May 22, 2019