Andrea Radrizzani’s turbulent end to his time at Leeds United certainly hasn’t deterred him from the world of owning a football club.
Radrizzani‘s final 18 months at Elland Road soured his relationship with Leeds supporters, in what was a legacy that should’ve remained intact forever after being the first owner in 16-years to guide the club back to the Premier League.
However, a string of poor managerial appointments and below-par recruitment saw Leeds relegated after three seasons in the top-flight.
His antics on social media, including the premature announcement of signing Bamba Dieng before a deal fell through, also turned Leeds supporters against him. By the time he sold to 49ers Enterprises, both sides were happy to say goodbye.
That said, Leeds certainly isn’t a fanbase that forgets in a hurry, something which Radrizzani has come to learn after responding on Twitter recently to the abuse he says he is constantly receiving.
Andrea Radrizzani, co-owner of Sampdoria, talks on the phone after the Serie B match between UC Sampdoria and Pisa at Luigi Ferraris Stadium on Aug...
Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images
Radrizzani close to buying Brazilian side Vasco da Gama
Radrizzani took over at Sampdoria even before he was officially out of the door at Elland Road. In fact, he controversially tried to use Leeds’ stadium as security in his bid to buy the Italian side, something which didn’t go down well.
That isn’t where he wants to end his dynasty of football clubs, though, with Ge.Globo reporting he is close to entering the South American market.
It is said that Radrizzani is coming to the final stages of completing a purchase of Brazilian side Vasco Da Gama, with conversations having ‘evolved’, and documents being exchanged.
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Radrizzani is actually the preferred option of Vasco to Nottingham Forest billionaire Evangelos Marinakis, despite his impressive success at the City Ground.
Marinakis took over Forest when they were a mid-table Championship club and now has them sat sixth in the Premier League, but an interview with the English media about his interest in purchasing the Brazilian side has not gone down well inside the club.
Radrizzani is also competing against two other consortiums based in the USA and Saudi Arabia, who are said to be neck and neck with the former Leeds man in the race.
How has Radrizzani done at Sampdoria since taking over?
Radrizzani certainly made a brave move in taking over Sampdoria as they were a side in trouble both on and off the pitch.
Sampdoria were relegated from Serie A at the same time Leeds went down from the Premier League, but deep in a financial crisis.
Radrizzani has come in and helped steady the ship somewhat, but their seventh place finish in Serie B last season was not enough to secure an immediate return to the top-flight.
After 15 matches this season, Sampdoria sit firmly in mid-table, just a handful of points both off the play-off places, and relegation spots.
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