Matteo Linked With Leeds Return

Last updated : 29 March 2006 By Kevin Markey
The former Scotland international is not in the first team picture at Blackburn and was recently linked with a loan move to Sheffield United ahead of the transfer deadline.

Despite carrying an injury, Leeds signed the versatile defender in August 2000 from Liverpool for a pricely £4.25m and he made his debut against AC Milan in the Champions League the following month, scoring his first goal against Besiktas, also in the Champions League.

Matteo was one of Leeds' best players as they reached the semi-finals of the Champions League that season.

The 2001/02 season saw him named vice captain to Rio Ferdinand in the Leeds side and, like at Liverpool, he filled a number of positions across the backline.

When Ferdinand was sold to Manchester United in the summer of 2002, Matteo was handed the captaincy for the 2002/03 season.

He was relucantly sold at the start of last season, despite making it known he wanted to stay and captain the Whites back to the Premier League.