Respected journalist Phil Hay has revealed that Leeds United have not opened negotiations with Gaetano Berardi over extending his contract, which is set to expire in the summer–leaving many fans of the club calling for his exit.

The Swiss defender joined the club from Sampdoria in 2014 and has gone on to make 136 appearances for Leeds.

Berardi has become something of a cult hero at Elland Road for his passionate defensive style but that approach does have its downfall–as the Whites found out last weekend.

The defender was judged to have brought down Millwall striker Tom Bradshaw in the box and was sent off, with the Lions converting the resulting spot-kick and ultimately beating Leeds 2-1.

The suspension and card have been rescinded but the fact that the sending off would’ve been the Switzerland international’s eighth at the Yorkshire club, a record, tells you all you need to know about his ill-discipline.

The injury of Liam Cooper means the 32-year-old looks set to play an important role over the next month or so, with Marcelo Bielsa having few options outside him and Ben White at centre-back.

Looking further ahead than that, Berardi’s current contract expires this summer. Three players, Kalvin Phillips, Liam Cooper, and Stuart Dallas have signed new deals this season, while the club are understood to be working on a new contract for Mateusz Klich.

Writing for The Athletic, Hay revealed that Leeds have not opened negotiations with Berardi over a new contract, meaning as things stand he will leave the club in the summer.

That news appears to have gone down well with many fans of the club, who took to Twitter to call time on the defender’s career.

Read the reaction of Leeds supporters here:

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