A lot of Leeds United fans have rushed to a tweet from Salim Lamrani praising Gaetano Berardi after he stepped into the defence for the Whites’ 1-0 win over Middlesbrough.
Would you give Berardi a new deal?
Yes
No
The 31-year-old was playing in just his 19th game of the season and he impressed these Whites fans in what was his 149th Leeds appearance.
However, some of the replies were more focused on Lamrani, as opposed to Berardi.
Indeed, the former Whites man has explained why he is no longer employed by Leeds not so long ago, and it appears as if a few fans wish he still was.
Berardi always does the job
MOT pic.twitter.com/LveWDfY3Qp— Salim Lamrani (@SalimLamraniOff) February 27, 2020
Unsung hero when he plays admittedly at times heart in mouths when he makes some of them tackles lol
— Anthony fowler (@tonygfowler) February 27, 2020
He’s my favourite player. Every team needs a Berardi and we play better when he’s in the team, the stats prove it
— Christine Barry ?? (@ChrisLUFCBarry) February 28, 2020
We miss you. MOT.
— covwhite (@covwhite) February 27, 2020
We miss you Salim
— FOREVER LEEDS (@FOREVERLEEDSMOT) February 27, 2020
Come back to Leeds Salim
— Paul B (@paulbowler60) February 27, 2020
The Lion
— Bosse Johansson (@BosseBank) February 27, 2020
What do we think?
Berardi’s contract is up at the end of the season and rumours emerged earlier this month that Leeds have put contract talks on hold.
However, this season he has no yellow cards and one red card. This is a far cry from his disciplinary record of past seasons.
In the 2017/18 season, he collected four yellows and was sent off three times, while last year, he was sent off in the play-off semi-final against Derby County.
However, it looks like he has cleaned up his act and has earned an average rating of 6.59 in the league this season – so could it be worth Leeds signing him up to a new deal?
As for Lamrani, the fact he was merely a member of the backroom team could suggest he was widely loved by the Leeds fanbase judging by the replies to his tweet.