Leeds United are looking to sign a winger after failing to bring Igor Paixao to the club and a new player linked with a move to Elland Road is “crazy” about Cristiano Ronaldo.
Igor Paixao looked like he might be heading to Leeds, with Marseille unable to reach Feyenoord’s asking price. But, out of nowhere, Marseille managed to gather the necessary funds to sign Paixao for £30m.
The Brazilian was open to joining Leeds, but he always preferred a Marseille side that have qualified for the Champions League. Leeds then, are left in the lurch and remain in the market to sign a new winger.
Manor Solomon remains an option with Tottenham potentially allowing him to leave, but another has been added to the Elland Road list. Fiorentina star Riccardo Sottil is supposedly a target for The Whites.
Photo by Claudio Villa/AC Milan via Getty ImagesRiccardo Sottil recently shared his idol, especially at Man United
Sottil is back at Fiorentina after a six-month loan spell with AC Milan, where the winger struggled to make an impact. The uncapped Italian only played eight times for Milan and now finds himself back at La Viola.
Reports say Leeds have opened talks to sign Sottil, who was allowed to join Milan on loan for an initial £1m and included a £9m option. In February he told Sempre Milan of his love for idol Cristiano Ronaldo.
“As a kid, I always liked Cristiano Ronaldo, especially when he was at Man United. He drove me crazy, did incredible things. A great athlete and a great professional. An example of football. I grew up with him.”
Photo by Diogo Cardoso/Getty ImagesWhy Fiorentina are looking to sell academy product Sottil
It is always difficult for a fanbase to learn to love a player that had left on loan. Just ask Jack Harrison, who is going through the same thing at the moment. Sottil is back at Fiorentina, but is on the chopping block.
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La Viola have decided to sell Sottil, not for footballing reasons, but for ‘sparking a brawl’ in an early game this summer. Sottil has been left at home as Fiorentina travel to England for three pre-season friendlies.
It is unclear how much Leeds would have to pay to sign Sottil, but after agreeing a £10m loan deal in January with Milan, the chances are that a deal would be similar. Is he as good as Paixao? One to watch.