Marcelo Bielsa Leeds
Gaetano Berardi has highlighted the differences in ownership style between Massimo Cellino and Andrea Radrizzani. The Swiss defender was signed as part of an influx of overseas additions when the eccentric Cellino took ownership of Leeds United in 2014. Berardi remained with the club until the end of last season, moving on after battling back from a long-term injury to make two Premier League appearances. He is now a free agent and looking for a fresh challenge and has opened up about his experiences of working under Cellino.
Gaetano Berardi said: “Cellino is the president directly, he took care of many things, even at the team level. He has his character, everyone knows it, but I got along well with him. He understands football, he knows how to manage a club, a company, a group of people. Even after his farewell they understood the work he did, saving Leeds and giving the base and then leaving again. He was present daily, at the pitch. And it is also the main difference with Radrizzani.”
Radrizzani became co-owner of the Whites in January 2017 before announcing a full buyout of the club in May 2017. He has since overseen promotion to the top flight and a top-half Premier League finish, despite some errors of judgement early on in his reign.
About Radrizzani, Gaetano Berardi said: “He has a lot of people working for him, he has his own businesses, he delegates a lot. But he knows how to manage the club in a positive way, even with the boys. He has a direct relationship with the team, he hears the players for everything. Then there are difficult moments and so he takes care of it, asks if he can do something. There was a positive relationship.”
The 32-year-old also paid tribute to Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa, who he became a trusted lieutenant of in the Championship despite not possessing the ball-playing capabilities of fellow defenders such as Ben White and Liam Cooper.
Gaetano Berardi said: “When one does not win, one always wonders what is special about him, even for me, when I arrived, I was of this idea. Fortunately, I evaluated him with my own eyes, he has everything to be a great coach. He has shown it in the three years at Leeds, it is very difficult to work for him, he has great demands from all points of view.”
