Ethan Ampadu may have woken up on Tuesday morning with a sore head and some regret at some of the things he said while celebrating Leeds United’s promotion during Monday’s parade.
Media training and any kind of control the club have on what comes out of the players’ mouths went out of the window on Monday, as an intoxicated Ampadu took it upon himself to lead with the microphone.
Naming Willy Gnonto’s favourite restaurant, demanding food from Nando’s, urging Leeds to give Sam Byram a two-year contract and starting a new song for Jayden Bogle were among Ampadu’s highlights.
Another chant Ampadu made was screaming Real Betis alongside Junior Firpo. Firpo has been strongly linked with a return to boyhood club Betis, and many felt Ampadu had dropped a hint on Firpo’s future.
Graham Smyth clears up Ethan Ampadu’s Real Betis chanting
Firpo himself has said Betis is home and opened the door to a return, with his contract ending in June. But the Yorkshire Evening Post’s Graham Smyth has now cleared up the truth behind Ampadu’s chant.
Screaming “Betis, Betis” while pointing to the crowd, Smyth said on the Inside Elland Road podcast that actually Ampadu was pointing to a fan who was wearing a Betis shirt – even naming the supporter, Noel.
“The Junior Firpo, Real Betis thing was tremendous. They spotted a guy called Noel, 21-year-old Leeds fan, wearing a Betis shirt. “Betis, Betis”. Live stream viewers thought this is the first rumour of the season.
“He might well go back to Betis, but he has simply seen the Betis shirt which was being worn because the guy wearing it was dashing out of the house quickly and didn’t have time to change it,” Smyth said.
What is the state of play regarding Junior Firpo’s contract…
Later on that evening, Firpo told Paraag Marathe to send him a contract on Jayden Bogle’s Instagram. Clearly, no decision has been made regarding Firpo’s future – from Leeds themselves, or Firpo himself.
Leeds players will receive a 50-60% increase on their wages, but with Firpo, Leeds can renegotitate a deal. The 49ers will obviously recall Firpo’s poor previous spell in the Premier League, though there is context.
Firpo suffered injury and covid during his two years in the top flight and would now deem himself a better player under Daniel Farke. A decision is needed soon, but nothing seems to have been decided.
