Italian businessman Andrea Radrizzani has completed buying a 50% stake in League Championship side Leeds United -- and "has offered his full support" to Manager Garry Monk as the club aims to return to the Premier League, according to Jason Burt of the London TELEGRAPH.
Radrizzani is the co-founder of media rights group MP & Silva and "has been in negotiations" with Leeds Owner Massimo Cellino for the past few months.
The deal has been completed through Radrizzani’s company, Aser Group Holding, of which he is the founder and chair, and it "remains to be seen whether it eventually leads to a full takeover of Leeds." Radrizzani: "I am very impressed with the job Garry Monk has done this season, and I will do all I can to support him and the team moving forward." Leeds supporters "will hope that will mean an immediate benefit for Monk with the January transfer window open and with the club sitting in fifth, in the play-off positions, in the Championship" (TELEGRAPH, 1/4). In London, David Hytner reported Radrizzani "talked of his pride and delight at making such a significant investment in one of England’s most famous clubs" -- one that he considers to be "sleeping giants" -- and he said that he was fully aware of their “great heritage and traditions." Radrizzani: "I am making a long-term commitment to Leeds United and will work to bring stability through ongoing investment." It is unclear how Radrizzani "will work with Cellino, given that the latter was banned by the Football Association for 18 months in December" and fined £250,000 for his involvement in Ross McCormack’s transfer from Leeds to Fulham in '14 (GUARDIAN, 1/4). REUTERS' Alan Baldwin wrote Aser Group includes MP & Silva as well as the global Eleven Sports Network. Sky Sports News reported unidentified sources said that Radrizzani "would have the option to buy all the shares in June" (REUTERS, 1/4).
