Patrick Bamford has joined Sheffield United seven months after leading derogatory chants about their manager, Chris Wilder.
The 32-year-old striker, a free agent since leaving Leeds, has signed a contract with the Championship strugglers until January. His seven-year career at Elland Road was ended by mutual consent in August.
One of Bamford’s final notable acts as a Leeds player was to lead abusive chants about Wilder during the club’s promotion celebrations in April. Now the once-capped England international will be playing for Wilder as the Blades’ manager looks to pull his beloved club out of the relegation zone.
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The pair had history before Leeds won promotion back to the Premier League last season and United lost the playoff final to Sunderland. Wilder described Bamford as “a muppet” when the roles were reversed in 2018-19 and the Blades won automatic promotion while Leeds missed out in the playoffs.
All appears to have been forgiven and forgotten with United, the Championship’s lowest scorers, in desperate need of improvement up front and Bamford looking to revive his career.
The Wilder chant went viral in April. A repentant Bamford and Leeds manager, Daniel Farke, phoned Wilder the following day.
Wilder said at the time: “Had a conversation with Pat yesterday and I’ve no issue at all with it. I’m not sure about the words used from a fellow pro! But I appreciated and respected him giving me a call.
“We had 20 minutes and the same again I spoke to Daniel as well and had a half-hour chat with him and he is a super guy, a top guy. When I was playing we used to give it and take it and that’s part and parcel of the game at every level, even on a Sunday morning. I have absolutely no issue. I am cool with it and I said that to Pat.”
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Bamford made 18 appearances for Leeds last season but the former Nottingham Forest, Chelsea and Middlesbrough player has struggled with injury in recent years.
