Leeds have confirmed in the last few minutes that Swiss full-back Gaeatno Berardi has signed a new three-year-deal with the club taking his time at the club until at least 2020. The defender is a huge favourite with the club and will delighted to get a new deal despite dislocating his shoulder at Bolton.
Berardi arrived at the club from Sampdoria for a staggering £250k. Staggering because you can’t buy many players with that amount of money, especially not one who has made an impact such as the defender. He was one of the first signings made by Massimo Cellino and he was told he would get a new deal if he earned it, which he did after the first season. It wasn’t all plain sailing for the full-back though, a red card on his debut didn’t exactly get him off to the best start, a karate kick in the League Cup was followed by some serious discipline problems and he struggled to get back into the side.
It all changed in the FA Cup third round tie at Sunderland. Leeds lost 1-0 but Berardi made a return, with a very good performance and by the end of the season he had forced himself back into the side under Neil Redfearn. He started the next season well and hasn’t looked back, although an injury delayed his season badly last campaign before he came back in to replace Charlie Taylor at left back and hold down the position with ease under Garry Monk. He has had another bad start to this term, a bad injury to his shoulder will sideline him for over a month but we know he will be back and probably be stronger for it.
Passion, pride, commitment and knowing what it means to play for Leeds United. That is Gaeatno Berardi summed up. A great deal for the club.
