Giuseppe Bellusci looks to stay in Italy

News of Empoli’s relegation from Serie A caused groans of displeasure throughout Yorkshire. And not because of any interest in the Italian side, or a little known link between the clubs, but because it meant that Leeds outcast Giuseppe Bellusci’s loan deal, that was expected to be made permanent, was over and that Bellusci might be heading back to Leeds United.

The unpopular centreback was sent out on loan to Italy last summer by former manager Garry Monk, and most Leeds fans were content in the knowledge that he would likely never suit up for the Whites ever again. The dread of having to deal with a player that appeared to not want to play for Leeds and was seen as a disruptive force in the dressing room made most Leeds fans feeling a little blue. His antics off the pitch, including refusing to play in a match against Charlton Athletic, grew tiresome, and his play on the pitch, where he was red-carded multiple times, was poor.

However, it appears that Bellusci has no intention of coming back to England, and maybe that’s for the best.

Phil Hay of the Yorkshire Evening Post is reporting that another Serie A team, Bologna, is apparently interested in the services of Bellusci. Bologna had a rough season last year, finishing in 15th place on 51 points, clear of the relegation spots by nine points, but still not performing up to expectations. While Leeds fans will wonder why anyone would want Bellusci at this point, he apparently played well enough to warrant interest from another team.

The ex-Catania defender Bellusci has a much better reputation in Italy than in England, and he likely feels more at home there than he does in Leeds. Anyway, all’s well that ends well, and if it means that Bellusci will no longer be playing for Leeds, it’s an ending that will be considered “well” by almost every Leeds fan.