It appears as if Leeds United will be without central defender Gaetano Berardi for the final game of the 2019/20 season this week.
The 31-year-old veteran was devastatingly stretched off during Sunday’s 3-1 victory over old foes Derby County, meaning he may have played his final match for the Yorkshire giants.
Berardi is out of contract after the Charlton fixture on Wednesday night and there hasn’t been any inclination from the club over a potential extension as of yet.
Should Berardi be handed a contract extension?
Yes, absolutely!
No way, time to go!
The Athletic’s Phil Hay delivered a fresh update on the Swiss centre-back’s condition, claiming the club were assessing him for a knee injury.
He said:
It’s a knee injury for Gaetano Berardi. Being assessed and will have scans in the morning. #lufc
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) July 19, 2020
Last week, the ever-reliable reporter revealed that he expects to see the long-serving defender offered a new deal, but as aforementioned, this is yet to actually come to fruition.
Despite not being first-choice and often playing second-fiddle to both skipper Liam Cooper and loan star Ben White, Berardi has been a reliable presence whenever called upon.
Per Transfermarkt, he has contributed towards 14 clean sheets in 22 league appearances whilst his only red card of the season was quickly rescinded on appeal.
The club have since confirmed that he has suffered an ACL injury and could miss the majority of next season.
It would be an awful shame to see Berardi bow out of Elland Road on the back of a serious injury, especially after six years of service.
If there’s anything you can thank former chairman Massimo Cellino for, then it’s got to be bringing the colossus to west Yorkshire. He’s been a wonderful servant.
Meanwhile, it gives Marcelo Bielsa plenty to think about against the Addicks as he’s also without his lynchpin, Kalvin Phillips – whether he plays Luke Ayling centrally or calls upon Pascal Struijk still remains to be seen.