Simon Jordan says Leeds United wing-back Ezgjan Alioski still has a “life to live” after a backlash over reports linking him with a transfer to Galatasaray.
There has been speculation that the North Macedonia international has agreed a pre-contract deal with the Turkish side with his contract running out at Elland Road in the summer.
That has led to a backlash from some Leeds supporters on social media, with a hatred built up for Galatasaray following an incident in 2000 where two Leeds fans were stabbed to death by supporters of the Turkish outfit ahead of a UEFA Cup semi-final.
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When asked if Alioski should be free to go where he wants, Jordan told talkSPORT: “You can understand the reaction of the Leeds United fans given the circumstances. Obviously there was a lot going on at that particular time.
“There was allegations of Leeds fans being in Istanbul and taunting and spoiling for a fight with the Galatasaray fans, who have a little crew called ‘The Nightwatchmen’ that had their own agenda to cause trouble.
“But 21 years or 20 years has passed, and an individual player that has no relationship with Leeds United, besides signing a contract and giving Leeds United the best he can give them during that period of time, and has an opportunity to progress his career somewhere else, will have a challenge in his mind about looking at something that he will greatly respect what happened and there will be great sadness for the two who lost their lives.
“But I’m conflicted about the loyalty he has for something that didn’t happen when he was there and has nothing to do, perhaps, with the situation today.
“And also the great feelings of emotion the Leeds fans will have and I think the player is in an incredibly envidious position. We don’t know what offers he does or doesn’t have, we don’t know where else he may be able to go.
“We don’t know if he’s holding out for more money from Leeds United and subsequently snubbing Leeds United to go to a club that there’s history with.
“We might be in a situation where the player has nowhere else to go and that’s the only decent offer on the table, Leeds aren’t offering him a new contract. What’s he to do?
“He’s in a very conflicted position. It’s all well and good that he has moral standards for other people but he also has a life to live himself.”
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