Leeds United owner Andrea Radrizzani has, on Thursday evening, responded angrily to news of the finer details of his joint bid to take control of Italian outfit Sampdoria being made public.
For those who may have missed it, the subject of Radrizzani’s efforts to expand his club portfolio has proven headline news in west Yorkshire across the day to date.
This comes after a report from The Athletic shed light on the Italian’s use of his Leeds-based assets to take control of Sampdoria.
It is understood that, as part of a combined venture with Gestio Capital, Radrizzani offered up Elland Road Stadium as collateral for a €30 million bank loan.
The report outlines that:
‘Under a heads of terms agreement co-signed by Radrizzani — essentially an agreement in principle — Elland Road would act as collateral as part of a deal by Radrizzani’s Aser and his bidding partner Gestio Capital to borrow €30m (£25.8m; $32.1m) from Italian bank Banca Sistema, helping to fund their Sampdoria buy-out.’
Exclusive: Leeds United’s chairman Andrea Radrizzani offered to use the club’s Elland Road stadium as security for a £26m bank loan which his company, Aser, and a bidding partner, Gestio Capital, intended to use to complete a takeover of Sampdoria.
📝 @AdamCrafton_ and @PhilHay_
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) June 1, 2023
In turn, Radrizzani has, late on Thursday evening, spoken out.
Rather than attempt to justify his actions, or even provide further context, however, the 48-year-old has instead opted to take aim at The Athletic.
This comes amid suggestions that the outlet’s latest report was little more than an effort to ‘put Leeds United fans against myself’:
“What Aser Ventures does with its assets which includes several companies including Leeds United, Greenfield and Elland Road. it’s none of your business.
“You can do what you want but you are just trying to put Leeds United fans against myself. It is not nice.”
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