Leeds United: Bellusci’s Whites career is over but Saiz all set to sign
Phil Hay 06:00 Thursday 13 July 2017
FIND A NEW CLUB: Leeds United defender Giuseppe Bellusci.
FIND A NEW CLUB: Leeds United defender Giuseppe Bellusci.
GIUSEPPE Bellusci’s Leeds United career is over after the defender was left out of last night’s Whites friendly at North Ferriby and told to find a new club.
Bellusci was absent from Thomas Christiansen’s squad at Church Road and will miss Leeds’ pre-season tour to Austria having been informed that he is free to leave Elland Road after his spat with a group of the club’s supporters at Guiseley on Saturday.
The centre-back appeared in United’s first two pre-season friendlies after making a late return to training last week.
Leeds gave him extra time away from Thorp Arch in the hope that Bellusci would secure a transfer before the resumption of training but interest from Cagliari and Benevento has so far failed to lead to a serious offer.
Bellusci spent last season on loan at Empoli but plans to join the club permanently this summer fell through after Empoli were relegated to Serie B.
The controversial 27-year-old, who has 12 months left on his contract, came back to Leeds a week-and-a-half ago and will continue to train with United while the club wait for approaches for him.
Head coach Christiansen had offered Bellusci brief hope of a reprieve by playing him against Harrogate Town and Guiseley last week but his 45-minute outing at Nethermoor was overshadowed by a half-time confrontation with sections of United’s support.
Speaking after his side’s 2-0 win over North Ferriby last night, Christiansen said: “Bellusci is already out.
“Everyone took this decision. It was clear.
“The situation was not easy but we understood that this is best for the team and the club. We have to handle it as well as possible.â€
With Bellusci no longer in his plans, Christiansen raised hopes of more incoming transfers and said he was confident that Samuel Saiz would seal a protracted move from Huesca in the next 24 hours.