Controversial ex-Leeds owner accused of ‘killing’ historic Italian club where Andrea Pirlo and Sandro Tonali came through as they face being kicked out of pro football

By LEWIS BROWNING

A controversial former owner of Leeds United has been accused of killing a historical Italian club after it went bankrupt.

Brescia, who finished 15th in Serie B last season, have been set to compete in Serie C next term due to financial issues that have seen them, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, fail to register the club.

It is suggested that there are £2.5million of unpaid debts at the club, putting the future of the 114-year-old club in serious doubt.

The club is currently owned by former Leeds chief Massimo Cellino, who owned Leeds between 2014 and 2017 and was a controversial figure during his time in charge.

He bought Brescia after selling Leeds, with La Gazzetta dello Sport writing that the 68-year-old has ‘deliberately killed’ the club.

The side, which are the former club of a number of legendary players in the game, have been unable to register in Serie C due to the debt not being paid, meaning they are set to play amateur football next season.

Former Leeds owner Massimo Cellino has been accused of ‘killing’ a historical Italian club

Cellino was the owner of Leeds from 2014 to 2017 and is known to be a controversial figure

Brescia reportedly owe £2.5million in debts and have been unable to register is Serie C

Brescia are the former side of the likes of Andrea Pirlo and Sandro Tonali – with the former Newcastle midfielder plying his trade there between 2012 and 2021.

Other names to have played for the club include Pep Guardiola, Luca Toni, Mario Balotelli and Roberto De Zerbi.

In their history, Brescia have played 23 seasons in Serie A – most recently in the 2019-20 campaign.

But their financial situation has nosedived under Cellino, who continues to make enemies in the football world.

While at Leeds, the Italian seemingly accidentally sacked manager Brian McDermott, later claiming he had asked for the couch to be replaced, not the coach.

In 2014, the Football League said Cellino had failed the owner’s test required to acquire a football club, before the decision was overturned on appeal.

He would later clash with McDermott again when the coach took a holiday, claiming the club had ‘no manager’ before he made a number of coaching changes.

He went through managers quickly, before being disqualified by the Football League in 2014 having been found guilty of tax evasion by an Italian court. He returned to the club in May 2015.

The club is a former side of a number of top players, including Sandro Tonali (left) and Andrea Pirlo (right)

Cellino was famed for claiming he asked the club to change the couch – and they thought the said coach

That month, he branded manager Neil Redfearn ‘weak’ and ‘a baby’, before again changing bosses. He was later disqualified again, before clashing with fans over the sale of the club.

He also tried to ban Sky Sports from entering the ground, had his ban lifted again after being acquitted of tax evasion, and eventually sold the club to Andrea Radrizzani in May 2017.

Away from football, he was arrested in February 2013 for attempted embezzlement and fraudulent misrepresentation after an investigation into the construction of the Stadio Is Arenas. he was held in custody for two weeks with no further action taken.

He had two prior criminal convictions from 1996 and 2001.

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Controversial ex-Leeds owner accused of ‘killing’ historic Italian club where Andrea Pirlo and Sandro Tonali came through as they face being kicked out of pro football

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