'We have great sadness' - Marcelo Bielsa's stirring tribute to departing Leeds United fan favourites

Both men will leave the club this summer having made a memorable mark on the club and its fanbase.

Hernandez will perhaps be remembered best for the winning goal at Swansea City last season that all-but guaranteed promotion, while Berardi's full-blooded dedication and appetite for physical challenges made him a fan favourite.

Bielsa says their exits bring sadness for everyone at Leeds.

"They have been a reference for Leeds, for the team, for the squad, for the fans, two excellent professionals, great team mates," said the head coach.

"They are footballers who have been very influential, very decisive. Sincerely, throughout the three years, I have had great respect for how they go about their profession and of course football wise they have a lot of ability too. And for the club, we have great sadness that they will no longer be part of the institution."

Hernandez is expected to return home to Spain where his family are residing and where he is part-owner of his local club CD Castellón, while Berardi had come to the end of his contract and is thought to have similar intentions, with a move back to Europe on the cards.

Bielsa insists both were welcome to stay part of his plans, but acknowledged a reduction in game time was in their thinking.

"On the subject of Pablo and the same on the subject of Berardi, I would have been satisfied had they continued in the squad I manage," he said.

"After, there are decisions that each one takes, I can't lose sight of the fact that there's a loss of protagonism due to the nature of time, expressed in the lowering of the amount of minutes that they play. But I continue to consider them important."

Berardi's versatility and dedication to the team made him a valuable part of the squad for the head coach, who brought him on for his Premier League debut at half-time on Tuesday against Southampton.