Norwich City striker Luciano Becchio will not return to Leeds United, insists Massimo Cellino
Luciano Becchio. Picture: RICHARD CALVER/FOCUS IMAGES - Credit: Richard Calver/Focus Images Ltd
Leeds United owner Massimo Cellino has poured cold water on the speculation linking Norwich City striker Luciano Becchio with a return to Elland Road.
The 31-year-old is back in light training at Colney after a heel injury cut short a loan stint at Rotherham earlier this season. The frontman's representative Horacio Rossi told the Yorkshire Evening Post his client would have no problems with moving away from Norfolk – probably on a temporary basis again – to get more game time.
And although the Argentian has strongly been tipped to complete a Leeds reunion during the January transfer window, Cellino insists a deal is now extremely unlikely.
'We love Becchio and made a big mistake when we let him go. But now it's too late,' said the United chief.
'He is not the same player he was three years ago and Leeds is not the same club. He is the past and we are concerned about the future.'
His statement, quoted in The Sun newspaper, appears to over rule head coach Neil Redfearn who told a press conference last week that he was interested in adding the Canaries' hitman to his Championship squad.
Becchio scored 75 league goals in 156 starts for Leeds during a successful five-and-a-half year stint prior to moving to Carrow Road in January 2013.
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However, the big frontman has failed to score in 13 league appearances since his switch and has been a peripheral figure under the likes of Chris Hughton and Neil Adams.