Leeds United defender, Gaeteno Berardi, has won Leeds’ Player of the Month for February; picking up 44% of the supporter votes.
The Swiss right back, who has also played left back during the absence of Charlie Taylor this season, beat off competition from second placed Rob Green and third placed Chris Wood, receiving a huge percentage of the votes made by Leeds fans via the clubs online website.
Although Leeds suffered back to back defeats during February to Huddersfield and Cardiff, the 28 year old has been a stand out performer in the left back role; which is not Gaetano’s favoured position. Berardi has been solid in a white shirt this season, and has consistently worn his heart on his sleeve throughout his time in England after arriving from Italian Serie A side Sampdoria at the beginning of the 2014/15 season.
Berardi reportedly accepted a pay cut to join Cellino and Leeds, with the Swiss the first and arguably the best Italian imports from the Italian owner. Gaetano’s first game for The Whites was in the EFL Cup at home to League 2 side Accrington Stanley, and was sent off in the second half for an extravagant high ‘tackle’ which many of you will remember. Berardi also received a red card in his fourth appearance for Leeds, making it two red cards in his first four games, against Huddersfield in September 2014- making Leeds fans questioning his temper as well as ability.
However, since then the feisty right back has improved his performances as well as his reputation with both the Leeds supporters and players; most notably after refusing to contribute in the ‘sicknote six’ against Charlton in the 2015 and play against the London club, which six former Italian based players opted not to do because of ‘injury’.
During his time at Leeds Berardi has seen the good, the bad, and the ugly on and off the football field- receiving three red cards and two blooded noses. The Swiss has become highly popular with the fans, however with the return of Charlie Taylor and Luke Ayling, will he keep his place in Monk’s starting XI?
