It was a potentially season-defining win for Leeds United on Saturday as Javi Gracia was victorious in his first game as the Yorkshire club’s manager.
Junior Firpo’s first goal for the Whites in the second half earned a much-needed three points against relegation-rivals Southampton while results elsewhere saw United move out of the Premier League’s relegation zone.
It wasn’t a classic display but a win was a win and after failing to win since 5 November, you could understand why there’d be fireworks set off in Leeds on Saturday night to celebrate the victory.
Another man who was possibly setting off fireworks and popping open bottles of champagne on Saturday night was Andrea Radrizzani.
Leeds’ owner has had a bit of a bad rap lately due to his social media activity and the club’s protracted search for a new manager.
However, ditching the Michael Skubala experiment early and going in for Gracia, despite his work permit issues, has proven – at this early stage – to be a good decision by Radrizzani and the rest of the Leeds board.
There are huge ramifications for Radrizzani too.
Premier League survival could be the difference between him making £500million in the summer or making just a small fraction of that.
That’s because the Italian businessman is widely expected to sell off his remaining shares to 49ers Enterprises, who’ve slowly been increasing their ownership of the Yorkshire club in recent years.
The investment arm of the San Francisco 49ers currently own 44 per cent of Leeds but they are widely expected to complete a total takeover at the end of the season.
The Times reported on 9 November that there 49ers have the funds in place to buy Radrizzani out of Leeds with The Athletic journalist Phil Hay saying on The Phil Hay Show podcast on 11 November that the Americans are ready to “push the button” on the takeover.
It is also understood that Leeds are valued in the region of “half a billion”.
If the Whites get relegated this season, they wouldn’t be worth anywhere near that so staying in the Premier League is huge for Radrizzani, who might not even want to sell up if the Yorkshire side is back in the Championship again.
But the early signs are good.
Gracia kept Watford up during his time at Vicarage Road and also led them to an FA Cup final.
He’s won his first game in charge of Leeds despite limited time with the squad and while also putting his own stamp on the starting line-up and the tactics.
With a few more weeks to bed in his ideas at Elland Road, Leeds should start to fly up the table and that £500million takeover looks set to be completed within months.
