Massimo Cellino has told the official Leeds United website Leeds backed out of signing Fernando Forestieri from Watford on Tuesday citing the players' reluctance to join Leeds as the decisive reason.

“We decided on Tuesday that we would not be signing Forestieri, it was clear he didn’t have the right mentality needed to come to Leeds,” Cellino told leedsunited.com.

“I want players to show a hunger and desire to come here — but he did not. “It was not about the money. A player could cost £3million, £5m or be a free transfer, but if their mentality isn’t right then I will not sign them for Leeds.

"Players like Wood, Adeyemi and Dallas are what we need here — they gave everything to show that they wanted to join Leeds. Look at Murphy, he showed a great commitment to the club.

"All our new signings showed that they really wanted to play for Leeds. “We are building a team of players with the same attitude and the mentality needed to make Leeds successful again.

“Forestieri did not show that and we have moved on. We ended the deal on Tuesday and we are now looking at different players.”

Details of the £3m deal were leaked prior to last Saturday's draw with Sheffield Wednesday, who along with Reading have emerged as potential suitors for the Italian who is surplus to requirements at Vicarage Road.

Whilst it is a blow to miss out on an undeniably talented player with Championship experience, we have to accept that despite all our rose-tinted sentiment, we aren't famous anymore and money talks in the cynical modern game.

However Don Cellino is spot-on, we only want players who wish to be here and who can handle the pressure and expectation of the Elland Road cauldron. Maybe Forestieri would be better suited going to a more homely club like Reading or Wednesday after his stint in Hertfordshire?

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