Former Crystal Palace owner and talkSPORT pundit Simon Jordan has defended Andrea Radrizzani as criticism of his Leeds United ownership starts to pile up. A report in the Athletic recently claimed the Whites owner had used Elland Road as security against a £26m loan he needed to buy Sampdoria, with club sources suggesting the proposal was never pushed through.
Supporters see the move as risking the club's future for a new club back in Italy. Talks are reportedly ongoing with Radrizzani and 49ers Enterprises over a new fee for the club, with the takeover rumbling away in the background.
Behind the scenes at Leeds United needs to be sorted, prior to the arrival of a new manager and before the start of pre-season for life back in the Championship. Jordan told talkSPORT: "He's saying mind your own business, I'll do what I want. And that is his right.
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"His reaction is one of the nature of the personality that he exudes, which is, I'll do as I please. It's also the reason why Leeds United got back into the Premier League after 16 years of trying.
"When Radrizzani came along he changed the direction. You have to be fair to Andrea there, he was the lightning rod to get Leeds out of this awful slump and funk that they were in for 16 years.
"He brought Bielsa back. He payed him Premier League money whilst they were in the Championship and he's a smooth operator Andrea - a great operator in the media world.
"You've got to give him that credit. So now he takes all the praise for that, which he probably doesn't get that much praise for.
"Now, he'll get all the brickbats for the decline of Leeds United which are a little unfair. He is right, there are a series of other assets in that organisation that they can leverage and he's not going to answer that immediately.
"His answer was I don't like you pitting me against Leeds and it's none of your business. Which it isn't.
"It's Leeds' fans' business because it's their football club but they don't have the influence. It's their business because they're emotionally invested but when it comes down to it, they don't own it, he does."
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