LEEDS UNITED DEFENDER Gaetano Berardi is set for up to nine months on the sidelines after suffering a serious knee injury over the weekend.
The Yorkshire club were crowned Championship winners on Saturday, meaning they will return to the Premier League next season after a 16-year absence.
Swiss international Berardi was substituted in the 33rd minute of their 3-1 victory over Derby County at Pride Park, and scans have revealed that he has torn anterior cruciate ligaments.
The 31-year-old centre back, who joined the club from Sampdoria in 2014, has made 25 appearances for Marcelo Bielsa’s side in all competitions this season.
“We wish Gaetano a speedy recovery,” ends Leeds’ short statement revealing the news.
Berardi is out of contract at the end of this month, and it is unclear whether he will be offered a new deal.
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