Elland Road
Elland Road

New Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani intends to buy back Elland Road


Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani has announced his intention to buy back Elland Road this summer.

The Italian, 42, completed his buy-out of Massimo Cellino on Wednesday when he purchased the remaining 50 per cent of shares held by his predecessor.

"I have this objective to buy back Elland Road in the summer, within my group, to have in this way less costs for Leeds United in infrastructure, so we can have investment in other fields, in football particularly," Radrizzani told BBC Radio Leeds.

The entrepreneur's proposal will be met with some scepticism by Leeds fans following the failure of previous owners to follow through with similar plans.

But Radrizzani added: "I've proved in my life when I say something I make it happen and this is already planned.

"We're already working, my team this past few months has worked hard on different projects and one of these is Elland Road. It will happen within the end of the summer."

Leeds sold Elland Road to Manchester businessman Jacob Adler in 2004 when the club was in financial meltdown following relegation from the Premier League.

The West Yorkshire club pay an annual seven-figure sum to lease the stadium - reported to be £2million - which increases by three per cent every 12 months, while a buy-back clause was negotiated as part of the sale.

Previous owners Ken Bates, Gulf Finance House and Cellino all failed with plans to trigger the buy-back clause during their tenure at Elland Road.

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