Leeds centre-back Pontus Jansson left the club yesterday, joining Championship rivals Brentford in a move that came out of the blue over the weekend.
According to local journalist Phil Hay, the player had been seen as a “disruptive influence” and that the speed of the deal showed both parties thought it best to move on.
Leeds United released a statement on Monday with a tweet playing it very straight – “Swedish defender Pontus Jansson has today left Leeds United to join Brentford” – and the accompanying text on the website not offering much more than wishing Jansson “well for the future”.
The news about Jansson and the statement itself split the fanbase.
There were plenty of Leeds fans who weren’t happy with Jansson going full stop.
Worst decision you’ve made in recent years @andrearadri , fans favourite! There best be a massive replacement coming in, PR disaster #lufc
— All Leeds Aren’t We (@LeedsNewsMOT) July 8, 2019
Another loan incoming ! @andrearadri
Get Orta out of the club as well. 90% of his signing have been absolute dross.
— J-MO (@J_MO80) July 8, 2019
Leeds fans right now ???? pic.twitter.com/HHTeUmhQUk
— John Smith (@lovebladesme) July 8, 2019
Other fans attacked the statement itself, after three years of service from the Swedish international.
Classless statement
— Leo Akinfenwe ?????????? (@DirtyLeedsLeo) July 8, 2019
Classless owner. Sell up you fraud @andrearadri
— Harry Clavane (@HarryClavane) July 8, 2019
Deserved more than this blunt a statement. We move on, but.. Whatever happened behind closed doors, doesn’t change that he breathed a fresh life and passion into the club when it was on its knees. Thank you @PJansson5 – you’ll always have a place in #lufc hearts
— Tim Hoolahan ???????? (@TimHoolahan) July 8, 2019
Woeful statement and should show more respect for somebody who galvanised the fans hugely in his 3 years, really poor that lads
— Graham Marchant (@gmarchy14) July 8, 2019
However, other supporters think that moving him on was the best thing for the team. One fan said “Good. Don’t care how good he is. One bad egg can ruin the entire dressing room.”
Another said that Bielsa obviously wanted him gone and said, “In Bielsa we trust”. However, the tweets from fans show it’s a very polarising issue.
Good. Don’t care how good he is. One bad egg can ruin the entire dressing room. Keeping a player with a shit attitude would only be bad.
— Mr14OutOF14 (@TeamSugar180) July 8, 2019
He’s a fool. Believed the hype, thought he was bigger than the club. A shame but will now be remembered for this and not his early days, when he was very very good.
— Keep fighting ???? ???? (@sam51h) July 8, 2019
You lot need to get a grip. Bielsa wanted him gone. He’s gone. In Bielsa we trust ????????
— Ladoakes (@LukeAdrianDavid) July 8, 2019
VERDICT
After a brilliant week, when Leeds signed Ben White, Jack Harrison and Helder Costa, as well as securing a fee and a season-long loan for Jack Clarke, this was the first big bump in the road for fans. It’s an issue that’s unlikely to get put to bed until Leeds sign another centre-back or keep a clean sheet in the first few games of the season. As for the statement from Leeds, it was better than the one West Ham afforded the outgoing Marko Arnautovic, which didn’t even wish him luck for the future. However, it seemed a bit skinny and it wouldn’t have hurt to have put a bit more flesh on the bones. Leeds will have known how popular Jansson is with the fans and it seems silly to risk upsetting them further by not giving Jansson the respect they think he deserves, regardless of what happened behind the scenes. Irrespective, it’s done now and Leeds fans must look forward and get behind the players that are still at the club. Pre-season starts tomorrow with a friendly against York City and all eyes will be on the centre-back pairing. We predict it will be Liam Cooper and new signing Ben White.