Leeds star player in retirement sensation – BBC journalist
By Harry Sykes
Pontus Jansson was on the verge of retirement before joining Leeds last summer, according to a reliable journalist.
BBC correspondent Adam Pope took to Twitter on Friday to make the shock claim that the defender, who is only 26, nearly quit the game a few months ago.
Pope, who covers all the Leeds matches for BBC radio, revealed on his personal Twitter account that Jansson was so frustrated with football he was “on the verge of quitting”.
Pope made the revelation as he explained how much Leeds means to Jansson after the club announced on Thursday night that the player has agreed a permanent contract with the club that will come into effect when his loan from Torino expires in the summer.
The Sweden international moved to Elland Road on a season-long loan from Torino last August after two years of injury torment in Italy.
Jansson made just 25 appearances in two years at the Serie A club, a figure he has matched in little over half a season at Leeds.
The centre-back suffered serious knee problems before moving to the Championship big hitters and it was the main reason why he was initially signed on loan.
Leeds have now tied the 10-times international down until the summer of 2020 as a reward for his consistence excellence at the heart of the defence.
Jansson has emerged as one of the star players under Garry Monk in a campaign in which the team have established themselves as genuine promotion contenders.
Leeds are fourth in the Championship ahead of Sunday’s top-of-the-table clash at Yorkshire rivals Huddersfield.
In other Leeds news, the club came within a whisker of signing this goal machine on deadline day after holding extensive talks.
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