Newspaper outlet The Sun have been forced to take down their article about Leeds United which emerged and went viral on Saturday night.
The ‘likes, retweets and replies’ quickly gathering pace from majority of social media users who laughed and didn’t believe it just by reading the headline to it.
The story claimed that Lionel Messi was urging La Liga giants Barcelona to get rid of Quique Setién and swopped in for Marcelo Bielsa to replace him.
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Many fans questioned how genuine the article was, especially as it had no such quotes included with it.
The Sun stated that Bielsa’s contract is set to run out next week, yet we all know that it’s been reported elsewhere that a deal was looking on the verge of happening to see the current manager lead his side into the new Premier League season.
The report added that Bielsa being linked with Barca was bound to set ‘alarm bells are ringing at Elland Road’.
They added that club bosses have so far been fairly relaxed about delaying new talks to allow Bielsa to enjoy the title celebrations.
Though, it did add that they had been no contact between the two sides as of yet.
However, the prospect of losing a man who has done so much for the club may prompt to act imminently.
According to The Sun, Messi has been frustrated at current Nou Camp coach after the club missed out on winning the league title.
The 61-year-old is coming under increasing pressure despite being in the role for little over six months.
There is also concern about the off-the-field issues at the Spanish giants, with Josep Maria Bartomeu’s future as club president under threat.
All of which was mentioned in The Sun’s story, which caught the attention on many other media outlets in teamTALK, Daily Mail, Telegraph, Mirror, Sports Mole, Yahoo, Football365, Daily Star and Leeds Live. It got onto BBC Sport’s gossip column.
The Sun however have ended up deleting their ‘exclusive’ story, with the URL now including the words ‘legal removal’.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/legal-removal/football/12223747/lionel-messi-barcelona-leeds-marcelo-bielsa-setien/
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As MOTLeedsNews reveals, it and the Daily Mirror’s article links to an empty page.
It’s rare that something like this happens for such a big story, but it seems someone has contacted The Sun after taking issue with it.
There could been many reasons as to why it was taken down, but it seemed a rather unusual disjointed story that looks false from the off.
Bielsa is out of contract, so things could change, but it’s highly unlikely, as good as Bielsa is as a manager, that Barcelona would go appointing a manager who has just won the second tier of English football.
Leeds United owner Andrea Radrizzani has discussed Marcelo Bielsa‘s contract situation following the 3-1 win over Derby County.
He told Sky Sports: “We will meet soon. We always manage the discussions very nicely and calmly. I’m sure he will like to stay here. I’ll be very pleased if he stays to enjoy the Premier League experience next year.”
? CHAMPIONE! CHAMPIONE! pic.twitter.com/ph4ajQPNht
— Leeds United (@LUFC) July 19, 2020
On bringing in Bielsa, Radrizzani added: “I knew we needed a leader, someone that could lift up the rating of our squad. He also changed the culture of our club, so I’m very glad with that decision and we’re working very well together.
“I think everyone plays a part. From myself, to the management, from any level in the club, all of the employees have contributed to the success we’re celebrating today. I’m very proud we’ve been able to unite the club again. The club, the city, have a stronger connection now, and this is very important for the club.”
BIELSA’S MANAGERIAL STATS:
– Newell’s Old Boys – 1990 until 1992 – 94 PLD, 39 W, 37 D, 18 L, 41.5 % won
– Atlas – 1993 until 1995 – 78 PLD, 29 W, 24 D, 25 L, 37.2 % won
– América – 1995 until 1996 – 40 PLD, 12 W, 18 D, 10 L, 30.0 % won
– Vélez Sársfield – 1997 until 1998 – 38 PLD, 22 W, 12 D, 4 L, 57.9 % won
– Espanyol – 10 July 1998 until 19 October 1998 – 9 PLD, 2 W, 4 D, 3 L, 22.2 % won
– Argentina – 20 October 1998 until 15 September 2004 – 68 PLD, 42 W, 16 D, 10 L, 61.8 % won
– Chile – 11 July 2007 until 4 February 2011 – 66 PLD, 34 W, 12 D, 20 L, 51.5 % won
– Athletic Bilbao – 7 July 2011 until 30 June 2013 – 112 PLD, 43 W, 31 D, 38 L, 38.4 % won
– Marseille – 17 May 2014 until 8 August 2015 – 41 PLD, 21 W, 7 D, 13 L, 51.2 % won
– Lazio – 6 July 2016 until 8 July 2016 – 0 PLD, 0 D, W, 0 L, 0 % won
– Lille – 24 May 2017 until 15 December 2017 – 19 PLD, 5 W, 5 D, 9 L, 26.3 % won
– Leeds United – 15 June 2018 until Present – 100 PLD, 56 W, 18 D, 26 L, 56.0 % won
Total – 665 PLD, 305 W, 184 D, 176 L, 45.9 % won
Fans reacted as The Sun are forced to take down their article about Leeds…
Guess the Sun doesn’t know twice Bielsa turn down a move to Barcelona over not been aloud to run things his own way in terms of training setup and player signings
— Kershaw (@DavidKershaw7) July 25, 2020
Poor journalism from the sun
— Barry W Hamilton ?? ????? (@BarryWHamilton1) July 26, 2020
Could everyone just take a minute to remember this is @TheSun ??
— Marchin0n2getha ??⚽️ (@Jon9156) July 26, 2020
@dwright75 You wrote that Lionel Messi urged Barcelona to sign Bielsa. Did he say that you directly?
— Dan Ginn (@danginnpho) July 25, 2020
No source given.
— Dan Ginn (@danginnpho) July 25, 2020
I’m sure @andrearadri, Orta and Kinnear are aware what a priceless treasure Mr Bielsa is and will do everything in their power to ensure Mr Bielsa’s reign continues! MoT! ALAW!
— Keith33LUFC (@Keith33L) July 25, 2020
Where’s the quote from Messi? How do you know this?
Stop making shit up and perhaps people may have a bit more respect for your paper…
— El Locos Elland Road Asylum – 5906 (@19MOT19) July 25, 2020
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