SPAL striker Mirco Antenucci reveals then-President Massimo Cellino forced Leeds United to stop playing him, as he was scoring too many goals.
He revealed the bizarre situation in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“I was very happy at Leeds, as they experience football like some of our Southern cities do. Enthusiasm is always very high, despite the side being in the Second tier for many years.
SPAL striker Mirco Antenucci reveals then-President Massimo Cellino forced Leeds United to stop playing him, as he was scoring too many goals.
He revealed the bizarre situation in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“I was very happy at Leeds, as they experience football like some of our Southern cities do. Enthusiasm is always very high, despite the side being in the Second tier for many years.
“I was 29 years old and simply no longer thinking about Serie A. Maybe I paid the price for being considered a lower level forward, perhaps I didn’t believe in myself that much either. The truth is, if you put a Serie B player in the top flight and give him time, he’ll do better as the weeks go by.”
Antenucci had found his niche in England with Leeds United, at least until he was frozen out.
“If I had scored 12 goals in my second season, there was a clause in my contract to automatically renew for another year. In December, I was on eight goals, so President Cellino forced the team not to play me. I still managed to get 10 goals before my flight to Italy.”
Antenucci has rediscovered his form at SPAL, contributing eight goals and five assists in 22 Serie A games this season.