When Leeds United signed Giuseppe Bellusci from Serie A side Cantania in 2014, it all looked quite promising. His initial outings in a Leeds United shirt were brimful of an almost Patton-esque, guts-n’-glory style of defending. It is safe to say he endeared himself to the Leeds United fans.
This wasn’t to last. In crept some weaknesses and inconsistencies. In came traits such as ingrained sulkiness and perceived petulance. Refusal to play. Dressing room canker. Storming off from training. Various arguments with fans on social media.
Bellusci went from being ‘the Warrior’ to reducing fans to ‘the Worrier’, such was the level of his inconsistencies and actions. The thing that infuriated was that you never quite knew which Bellusci it was that would turn up. Was it the solid and consistent Giuseppe that would run out with the team or would it be the infuriatingly porous and disaster-prone Bellusci that would flob around?
You never knew. It had gone beyond entertaining. It had escaped the realms of parody. It had run its course in many a way.
Berated by Leeds United fans on social media, some of it beyond the pale to be fair to the player, it seemed obvious that the general consensus was that the fans didn’t want to see him pull on the shirt again. A move away from Elland Road was seen as the best option for all concerned.
Bellusci didn’t return back from the off-season and into preseason training, the reason cited as ‘family issues’ back in his native Italy. Then the rumour mill began to kick in – it seemed that the error-prone Italian centre-back wasn’t coming back.
And so it proved when the news can through that Bellusci was to leave Leeds United after two seasons, albeit it on a season-long loan to Serie A side Empoli.
Today, in an article on Corriere dello Sport, Bellusci gives some insight into his return to his native Italy and top-tier football. First off he openly admits that “I wanted to return to Italy,” before then expanding on some of the reasons behind him leaving Leeds United and England.
Speaking of the return to Italy, Bellusci says he’s looking forward to returning to Serie A “after having tasted it with Catania and I hope to be useful to the cause and repay the faith that Empoli has placed in me.”
After thanking Leeds owner Massimo Cellino for the chance that he was given to play in England for Leeds, Bellusci expanded further on reasons behind his return. Citing differences in footballing outlook, the Italian said: “I love working on the defensive and in England this was not done. Tactically Italy is a step ahead of everyone. I saw Empoli as they worked on this fundamental and I’m happy to be here.”
He then went on to give his welcome back to Italian football was warm and set out what vision he sees for next season. Bellusci said on this: “I arrived here and I quickly found anyone with open arms to welcome me. We all have to work hard from the start to be able to center the third consecutive salvation (from relegation) that would be like winning a championship.”
For Bellusci, it appears also that it is a life choice to return to Italy, something that he decided to do after speaking with his family.
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