Here’s a combination of two words which can strike fear into the hearts of Leeds United supporters: Massimo Cellino.
The Italian businessman and never-ending ‘character’ had an, erm, interesting spell in charge of the club which saw interference in squad selection, personal choice of transfers, players being set to war against the club, and all manner of drama until he eventually sold his shares to Andrea Radrizzani and moved on.
Under the second Italian, Leeds did rather better, achieving the much desired return to the Premier League, but things were to turn sour and last season saw the Whites relegated to the Championship.
Radrizzani was quickly off and is now building a new football life for himself at Sampdoria… but there’s a hitch, and it’s a Massimo Cellino shaped one.
The Brescia boss has spoken to Gazzetta dello Sport, and they have a headline on Thursday stating: ‘Cellino and Radrizzani’s debt «I’ll seize Samp’s shares»’
Of course this drama will be at the very least mildly amusing for Leeds United fans. The crux of the issue appears to be that Cellino is claiming he hasn’t been paid on time for all the financial agreements he secured when he left Elland Road.
Gazzetta state: ‘At stake is an old loan to be repaid in annual instalments. The 2023 one would not have been honoured in time, thus leading Cellino and his lawyers to consider a sensational action: the seizure of Sampdoria’s shares.’
It appears to relate to a €9.6m loan Radrizzani is said to have taken from Cellino to buy Elland Road.
Cellino believes Radrizzani used Elland Road as security when buying Sampdoria, but even if that isn’t the case, the loan still needs to be paid at a certain amount per year and the claim is a payment has been missed.
True to his character, Cellino is quoted as saying: “Even in the past there was no punctuality, now the 2023 instalment expired on August 31st. I made myself heard and I get no answers. That money is needed for my Brescia.
“How can Radrizzani buy a prestigious club like Samp to rehabilitate if he can’t even pay his old debts relating to Leeds? An embarrassing thing! I have to protect myself and Brescia and for this reason my lawyers are evaluating whether it is possible to take action against Sampdoria’s shares, provided they are in his name.”
