Tried to sign both Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Edinson Cavani in January, admits Andrea Radrizzani
Leeds United owner Andrea Radrizzani has revealed that he tried to make moves for both Zlatan Ibrahimovic and PSG star Edinson Cavani in the January transfer window. The Peacocks were looking for a new striker to pair first team star Patrick Bamford and eventually signed Jean-Kevin Augustin.
Augustin’s impact has been minimal with the Frenchman’s loan spell affected by the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus but he has done relatively well. Since his arrival, and before the league was suspended, Leeds United were on a six game unbeaten run with just three losses in their last ten Championship games. It places the Peacocks at the top of the league table with a one-point lead over second-place West Bromwich Albion.
However, while the club did initially struggle to sign anyone in the winter transfer window, Leeds United owner Andrea Radrizzani has now revealed that he approached both Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Edinson Cavani over potential moves. The 45-year-old Italian businessman also added that while Zlatan opted to sign for AC Milan, negotiations with Cavani never came to a foregone conclusion.
“The PSG president had given me the availability to verify the interest with the player's brother. However, the negotiation never flew. I spoke more concretely with Zlatan (Ibrahimovic). He could give us a decisive push but he decided to go to (AC) Milan. He was very honest and transparent with me,” Radrizzani told Sky Sports.
"We need to be rational and coherent with the strategy of both coach and team. I did not even speak with (coach) Marcelo Bielsa about Cavani and Ibrahimovic because we never got to the stage that we could sit down and talk about them," he added.