Leeds United Questions and Answers: Former owner Andrea Raderzani about the difficult exit and why it is believed that the club can reach Europe | Football news

Former owner and chairman of the Board of Directors, Leeds Andrea Raderzani, is discussing his difficult exit from the club, and why it is believed that the current owners can return Leeds to Europe …

In an exclusive interview with Sky Sports News The first correspondent Tim Thornton in Milan, Radzani, who sold his dominant share in the club in 2023 to 49ers, also explains that the Nelland Road is the key to the future, and how Leeds United will always be a special place in his heart.

Andrea, two years after you leave Leeds United, how happy you can see in the Premier League?

I am very happy. As a LEDS fans, as a former president, I am very happy for the fans that they will finally return to where they belong, the English Premier League. It is a big version for me because, frankly, I had a very painful and difficult output, and finally I now feel that Destiny changed everything and I can return to Leeds soon.

You have mentioned a difficult and shocking exit, but in general, there was a lot of positive change during your time in Leeds.

Yes, I mean, I personally feel that I did six years in Leeds, of which five and a half years have gone well. I turned around a club that was in A, I will not say a catastrophe, but he was not hoping at an ambitious time in the Premier League.

It was in the middle of the table in the championship and we did a great job, especially with the appointment of Marcelo Bilsa and the players. We have done a great job to achieve the Premier League, to keep the class for three seasons and also outside the field, I think we renewed the stadium, and we re -brightened the city and society with the club, so we did a lot of good things.

Unfortunately, during the past six months, I think for various reasons, I lost daily activity with the club, and lost control of the club. Also, for other personal reasons, I moved to Milan and all this, as a result, the club returned to the championship and it was a very painful and difficult period of my life, professionally and also, so I am very happy now to return to the place you should be.

Are you still talking to Parage Marath and the ownership group?

I usually speak to him several times every month and stay in contact during the season, comment on Leeds, comment on other football trends, but especially about Leeds and we recently talked this week when he was in Leeds. But he was also busy in Rangers looking for new opportunities, so I am in contact with them a lot.

How difficult is Leeds – which jumps from the championship to the Premier League – because you did so and successfully in this first season under the leadership of Marcelo Pelsa when Leeds ranked ninth?

Yes, you see the gap between the Premier League clubs and the newly reinforced clubs that have become larger and larger, in the last two seasons, mainly, all clubs wore the tournament. So this explains that the category is another level, it requires investment, and requires a new project, as it requires football. In some cases, it is a revolution in the team, and sometimes when you use the right employment, it can work very well, and sometimes no.

In moving with Bielsa to Jesse Marsch, we changed, I remember that we sold players, and we bought seven, and unfortunately the employment was not successful for us to maintain the category. As if you come from the championship to the Premier League, the challenge is very big.

So, the employment you feel is the key to making this transition successful?

Certainly, yes, and in our case, I think the mistake that I may have brought and did with the administration is that we did not rent enough players with maturity and experience in the Premier League, but we bet on high -quality players, but there is no experience in the Premier League.

Therefore, we brought a lot of players from Austria, Germany or other countries with zero ever in English football and I think it is a big gap.

How will success for the United in the Premier League? Is it related to long -term stability and now trying to stay in the first year?

Look, I think it was always the plan, the plan has been interrupted for two years, unfortunately.

But the plan was to build the club, return it to the Premier League, build it and leave it to strong property and good management to transfer it to the next level. I think that Parage and the concerned men support him, the new management and management that will come to get the credibility and experience, and the know -how it reaches the next level.

Therefore, I think they have resources, and they have the ability and know -how to take the club where it deserves. The new stadium will help. It was already planned before. I think the project is still as it is, as shown for four or five years with Parage and the group because we were already partners.

Unfortunately, I have been delayed for a few years, and I pay the consequences of this delay, but now they can restore the way and the direction to restore Leeds as an average medium club, and I hope he will return to Europe one day. I was really hoping Parage this week, saying that his goal now is to restore Leeds in Europe because this is the possibility of it.

Is this realistic?

Not immediately, but why not? I think Leeds need to dream of old times and new ownership can do so, and I can surrender. Know them well and they will gradually grow, and they will choose the right to restore Leeds in this place.

It has already touched on it, but the stadium redevelopment, I participated strongly in the early stages of this, how much is the key to that?

The important thing is, because it brings new revenues and a new opportunity, as it modernizes the club, as it gives a big boost. I remember when we were in the Premier League two years ago, we received three and a half times to get tickets more than Elland Road, so the Ellend Road problem will not be in each game, it’s not a problem at all.

Do you miss the special atmosphere on the ELLAND road?

Yes, see, I just have a horror cry, I think about it.

It was a wonderful period of my life, I did some mistakes in the end, but I always try to be real in my administration and of course for me, it was also legitimate, legitimate.

But I became a fan of Leeds, my family, my brother, my nephew, my son also supports Leeds. They do not have a team in Italy, and they suffer at the end of each week when Leeds play and we cannot wait to return to the field. So this is in our blood now and we continue to do so.

Raphinha, one of the players I signed, is very successful again this season and in the Champions League semi -finals. How happy to see him in good condition?

It is of great pride that the club has the opportunity of a player like Raphinha.

I think Marcelo Pielasa and Wides contributed to his success, because playing in the Premier League definitely helped him, but his great credit for him.

But I also think about driving, I have seen him growing greatly, and he helps his teammates, a captain on the field, and he became Barcelona captain, so, this, I think, means a lot to his personal development as well.

What is clear that you have a great passion for football. Can we see you again in the game at some point?

We’ll see. When I finished Leeds, I had an instinctive reaction I wanted to help Sampdoria, and he was difficult and saved the club from bankruptcy. But after a few months, I realized that I was not in a good place for a great commitment as it requires football, because football is not a typical work, it is a social work in a way that has a great impact with people, with society, so you need to take it seriously and be present.

And when I realized that I was mentally prepared to do this, I called myself, so now I am a break, but I am good, I am in good condition now, I feel strength again and I will search for some opportunities. Maybe soon, let’s see.

Are you looking to watch Leeds again in the Premier League?

Yes, certainly, it is in my heart, and it will be difficult for me to look at another club in England. But I am a great supporter and I cannot wait until I return to the field.