Berardi excited for future with ‘strong’ Leeds after signing new deal

Combative Leeds United defender Gaetano Berardi has signed a contract which will keep him at the club until 2020.

The Switzerland international is one of the few 2014 Massimo Cellino signings to still remain at the club. Last year he managed to make 29 appearances, establishing himself as Leeds’ first choice left-back ahead of the highly-rated Charlie Taylor, now of Burnley.

The 28-year-old is not the only Leeds player to sign a new contract in recent weeks. Youngsters Kalvin Phillips and Tyler Denton have also penned new deals to keep them at the Yorkshire club for the foreseeable future.

Berardi was stretchered off in the 3-2 win at Bolton last weekend with a suspected dislocated shoulder. However, he issued a positive statement on Instagram to reassure fans.

“The most important thing: 3 points! I heard a lot of support coming out of the pitch so THANK YOU!”

This unselfish reflection is an indication of the team mentality Thomas Christiansen has instilled at Elland Road. The full-back went on to tell Sky Sports: “Great performance yesterday of all the team, we managed all the difficult moments with a strong mentality! Proud of all my teammates.”

A ‘strong mentality’ is exactly what Leeds will need to make a play-off push this season. The full-back will be chomping at the bit to return for the Whites and hope to help them go one further than last season.