Leicester City – Sport Witness http://sportwitness.co.uk Mon, 04 Dec 2023 10:16:48 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.1.15 “I wasn’t allowed to stay” – Defender says Brexit was behind Leicester City exit http://sportwitness.co.uk/i-wasnt-allowed-stay-defender-says-brexit-behind-leicester-city-exit/ http://sportwitness.co.uk/i-wasnt-allowed-stay-defender-says-brexit-behind-leicester-city-exit/#respond Wed, 29 Nov 2023 15:40:29 +0000 http://sportwitness.co.uk/?p=450087 Back in 2021, when Alessandro Circati joined Parma, he also had the chance to sign for Leicester City. That decision was covered by the Italian media at that time, with newspapers revealing he had a trial with the Foxes, and chose to join the Serie A side instead. This week, Circati was interviewed by Sport

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Back in 2021, when Alessandro Circati joined Parma, he also had the chance to sign for Leicester City.

That decision was covered by the Italian media at that time, with newspapers revealing he had a trial with the Foxes, and chose to join the Serie A side instead.

This week, Circati was interviewed by Sport Optus, with quotes relayed by I Love Palermo Calcio. There, he recalled that he indeed spent some time training with Leicester City, and it’s actually the Brexit rules which stopped him from playing for the club.

“I was at Leicester for about three months and had been given the chance to sign there, but because of Brexit, which came into effect on January 1st, I wasn’t allowed to stay,” said Circati.

“So I came back here because my family is not too far away and I had the opportunity to do some training at Collecchio. After about a week of training they took me aside and told me they would like to have me for the rest of the season. I took a weight off my shoulders after signing for a big club. It was my dream.”

Circati joined Parma’s youth ranks back then. He was part of their U-18 and U-19 squads, and got promoted to the first team in the summer of 2022.

The youngster is now conquering his place as a starter at the Serie A side, and at the age of 20, he now has 35 appearances for them.

It seems only time will tell whether Leicester City will regret having missed out on his signing, although it now seems they had their hands tied when it came to keeping him at the club.

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“I thought about stopping” – Player reveals how miserable he was at Leicester, has ‘extra motivation’ tonight http://sportwitness.co.uk/i-thought-stopping-player-reveals-miserable-leicester-extra-motivation-tonight/ http://sportwitness.co.uk/i-thought-stopping-player-reveals-miserable-leicester-extra-motivation-tonight/#respond Wed, 29 Nov 2023 11:38:21 +0000 http://sportwitness.co.uk/?p=449999 Finally managing to leave Leicester City, Nampalys Mendy quickly found himself a new club in RC Lens in France. After so many years of limbo at the King Power Stadium, the midfielder now gets to play in the Champions League, where he will face Arsenal on Wednesday night. Ahead of the game, Mendy sat down

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Finally managing to leave Leicester City, Nampalys Mendy quickly found himself a new club in RC Lens in France.

After so many years of limbo at the King Power Stadium, the midfielder now gets to play in the Champions League, where he will face Arsenal on Wednesday night.

Ahead of the game, Mendy sat down with La Voix des Sports, where he discussed the last few years and how tough life was for him at Leicester.

Describing his experience at the now Championship side, the Senegal international felt it was ‘mixed’, as he grew as a person and as a player, and it allowed him to ‘mature and progress’.

An injury did stop him for the best part of two years, and it took him a long time to find his level again, leaving him in a situation where he really had to question his future.

He said: “It’s really when I came back (from his loan at Nice), when Claude Puel was managing, that I managed to properly return, with a good pre-season. I asked myself a lot of questions: stopping? I spoke about it with those close to me. I don’t know if I would have done it, but I thought about stopping. I was mostly frustrated.”

As for whether this game against Arsenal in the Champions League is a great time fro him to prove a point, that’s not how the former Leicester man looks at it.

He said: “Prove a point, I don’t think so, but I’m happy because it’s an English club, and I know people I was with at Leicester will watch this game. It’s an extra motivation. Just like the first game. It’s really personal, it does me a lot of good.

“It’s maybe a bit of ego, but it’s normal, I think. I don’t have bitterness, I try and move on, to do my best. I’ve never cheated. When I was on the pitch, I was performant, but there were decisions. It’s part of our sport. To be honest, I always tried to leave Leicester, but I never managed it. I was never in the offices, but it was always complicated to leave, and not just for me.”

This comes a couple of weeks after the 31-year-old unloaded in an interview about the poor treatment he received and how he felt had ‘come alive’ again since leaving Leicester on a free this summer when his contract finally expired.

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Leicester duo could be reunited at new club – Director of football moving early, facing some resistance http://sportwitness.co.uk/leicester-duo-reunited-new-club-director-football-moving-early-facing-resistance/ http://sportwitness.co.uk/leicester-duo-reunited-new-club-director-football-moving-early-facing-resistance/#respond Thu, 23 Nov 2023 17:08:46 +0000 http://sportwitness.co.uk/?p=449298 Leicester City duo Boubakary Soumaré and Wilfred Ndidi could be reunited at Sevilla in the summer, with director of football Victor Orta eyeing up both players. That’s according to Estadio Deportivo, who say the Sevilla director is already planning ahead for a re-shape of the squad next summer and Leicester are very much in his

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Leicester City duo Boubakary Soumaré and Wilfred Ndidi could be reunited at Sevilla in the summer, with director of football Victor Orta eyeing up both players.

That’s according to Estadio Deportivo, who say the Sevilla director is already planning ahead for a re-shape of the squad next summer and Leicester are very much in his eyeline.

The newspaper explains that Orta knows he has a lot of work ahead of him in the coming months and does not want to waste time planning ahead.

First, he has to decide what to do with Soumaré, who is on loan at the Spanish club until the end of the season. That deal includes a purchase option worth €15m but whether that is exercised will be dependent on the budget available to Orta.

Because of that, he’s left his options open, but everything indicates that midfielder Fernando Reges will be leaving so he needs at least one signing in midfield, possibly two.

If it is the latter and he exercises the option for Soumaré, then another player will be signed alongside him and that could be his Leicester teammate Ndidi.

His contract expires next summer and he’s free to negotiate with clubs from January 1st on a pre-contract agreement. That is something Orta ‘would be trying’ to arrange.

He’s met an early resistance from the player, though, who has made it clear that his plans would initially be to continue in the Premier League if he receives a good offer.

If he doesn’t then Sevilla are there, ready to make their move and potentially reunite him with his Foxes teammate.

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Club have ‘prepared a first offer’ to sign Leicester City star – ‘Taking action’ early http://sportwitness.co.uk/club-prepared-first-offer-sign-leicester-city-star-taking-action-early/ http://sportwitness.co.uk/club-prepared-first-offer-sign-leicester-city-star-taking-action-early/#respond Tue, 21 Nov 2023 18:08:05 +0000 http://sportwitness.co.uk/?p=448834 Surprisingly staying at Leicester City after their relegation to the Championship, Wilfred Ndidi might not be sticking around for much longer. The defensive midfielder has been of interest to a few clubs since the club’s decent into the second-tier, and Sevilla in Spain are ‘going to make a move’. That’s according to Fichajes.com, who recall

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Surprisingly staying at Leicester City after their relegation to the Championship, Wilfred Ndidi might not be sticking around for much longer.

The defensive midfielder has been of interest to a few clubs since the club’s decent into the second-tier, and Sevilla in Spain are ‘going to make a move’.

That’s according to Fichajes.com, who recall that the Leicester player was recently linked to Barcelona, clearly impressed by his three goals and four assists in 15 games this season in all competitions.

Being a player of ‘proven quality’ at 26 years of age, he is ‘attractive’ on the market, because his contract at King Power Stadium ends in June.

He will be approached by a number of sides in January if he doesn’t renew, and Sevilla have ‘prepared a first offer’ for him to consider.

They are looking to ‘strengthen their game between the lines’, and are keen on the Nigeria international, which is why they are ‘taking action’ now.

As for the player, it’s explained that he and his entourage are currently prioritising a return to the Premier League if they can, but should that not happen, then perhaps the allure of a move to Spain could be on the cards.

That is, at least, what Sevilla will be hoping for.

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‘Reckless’ Leicester player is clearly manager’s ‘crush’ – Now ‘indisputable’ for his country http://sportwitness.co.uk/reckless-leicester-player-clearly-managers-crush-now-indisputable-country/ http://sportwitness.co.uk/reckless-leicester-player-clearly-managers-crush-now-indisputable-country/#respond Tue, 21 Nov 2023 14:44:12 +0000 http://sportwitness.co.uk/?p=448744 Leicester City defender Wout Faes is now ‘indisputable’ for Belgium, with manager Domenico Tedesco suffering from something of a ‘crush’. That’s according to RTBF and the members of their RTBF ‘Team Foot’, who have been discussing the various winners and losers from the current squad. Tedesco has set about resetting the group he inherited from

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Leicester City defender Wout Faes is now ‘indisputable’ for Belgium, with manager Domenico Tedesco suffering from something of a ‘crush’.

That’s according to RTBF and the members of their RTBF ‘Team Foot’, who have been discussing the various winners and losers from the current squad.

Tedesco has set about resetting the group he inherited from Roberto Martinez since replacing the Spanish coach after the World Cup in Qatar last year.

That’s seen a number of changes, with him very much keen to bring in his own players and move the side on from the ‘Golden Generation’ of Martinez’s era.

Faes is one of those to have benefitted, having gone from barely featuring in the previous regime and spending all of the World Cup sat on the bench to a regular and key player in Tedesco’s defence.

He’s only failed to play 90 minutes in two of his last ten games for his country, establishing himself as a regular as Leicester also fly high at the top of the Championship.

He was again on the pitch for the full game as Belgium beat Azerbaijan 5-0 in their latest European qualifier and everyone on the panel agrees the Leicester man is ‘among the winners’ in the new group.

Five minutes under Martinez, indisputable under Tedesco. Criticised, criticised, but still there, while behind it is growing,” started Antoine Hick on the debate about the defender.

Despite sometimes limited performances and his presence in a team which went down to the Championship, Tedesco maintains Wout’s mane in his rearguard,” added Frank Peterkenne.

Vincent Langendries concluded, “He’s obviously Tedesco’s crush who likes the reckless side of the Leicester player. Despite some regular mishaps, Faes leaves with a head start on all the other central players. It was anything but obvious before the arrival of the new coach.”

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Player says he has ‘no future’ at Leicester – Has no intention of playing under Enzo Maresca http://sportwitness.co.uk/player-says-no-future-leicester-no-intention-playing-enzo-maresca/ http://sportwitness.co.uk/player-says-no-future-leicester-no-intention-playing-enzo-maresca/#respond Mon, 20 Nov 2023 12:16:53 +0000 http://sportwitness.co.uk/?p=448464 When Leicester City decided to spend €14m on Victor Kristiansen, there was hope that he would turn out to be their next left-back for the foreseeable future. However, relegation to the Championship made life rather difficult for the Foxes, and the arrival of Enzo Maresca changed a lot. Kristiansen wasn’t best pleased with the new

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When Leicester City decided to spend €14m on Victor Kristiansen, there was hope that he would turn out to be their next left-back for the foreseeable future.

However, relegation to the Championship made life rather difficult for the Foxes, and the arrival of Enzo Maresca changed a lot.

Kristiansen wasn’t best pleased with the new manager’s plans for him at Leicester, which is why he sought a move away, and found it with Bologna, who paid €1m to sign him on loan with an option to buy, and the player now expects that to be triggered, as revealed in quotes by Corriere dello Sport.

Currently on international duty with Denmark, the defender was asked if he imagines himself returning to the King Power Stadium next season.

He is said to have responded ‘with conviction’: “No, at the moment, there is no future for me there.”

This isn’t the first time the left-back has been critical of Leicester, as he recently called them a dysfunctional club, especially after Maresca decided to try and change his position from full-back to centre-back.

If it wasn’t for that, he would have happily stayed at the club, stating that if he could ‘rewrite history’, he would, as things were initially ‘going great’ with the now Championship side.

Still, it seemingly wasn’t to be, and he will either find himself a new club if Bologna don’t trigger his clause, or stay put if they do.

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€750k cost of Leicester City signing revealed – Foxes may still spend €17m more http://sportwitness.co.uk/e750k-cost-leicester-city-signing-revealed-foxes-may-still-spend-e17m/ http://sportwitness.co.uk/e750k-cost-leicester-city-signing-revealed-foxes-may-still-spend-e17m/#respond Wed, 15 Nov 2023 19:19:15 +0000 http://sportwitness.co.uk/?p=447786 Portuguese side Sporting on Wednesday released a document revealing the details of all the transfers they made in 2023. The Lisbon media is usually on the money about those transactions, so there hasn’t been big news about the deals made by the Lions. There is just one transfer that is being covered by outlets such

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Portuguese side Sporting on Wednesday released a document revealing the details of all the transfers they made in 2023.

The Lisbon media is usually on the money about those transactions, so there hasn’t been big news about the deals made by the Lions.

There is just one transfer that is being covered by outlets such as Record, which is Issahaku Fatawu’s move to Leicester City.

What wasn’t known about this deal is that the Foxes had paid €750k to sign the winger on a year-long loan spell.

As previously reported, Leicester City can sign the player at the end of the spell, with Record claiming that’d cost them €17m.

The outlet claims that clause will be automatically triggered in case the Foxes get promotion to the Premier League this season.

Since his arrival at Leicester City, Fatawu has one goal and one assist in 13 appearances.

Just recently, the Portuguese media had been claiming Sporting were excited with the Foxes’ start to the season, as they hope they’ll get promoted and the sale will go through.

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Player says he joined “dysfunctional” club in Leicester City – Not happy with Maresca changing position, looking for future away http://sportwitness.co.uk/player-says-joined-dysfunctional-club-leicester-city-not-happy-maresca-changing-position-looking-future-away/ http://sportwitness.co.uk/player-says-joined-dysfunctional-club-leicester-city-not-happy-maresca-changing-position-looking-future-away/#respond Wed, 15 Nov 2023 13:16:31 +0000 http://sportwitness.co.uk/?p=447654 Leicester City’s Victor Kristiansen has experienced a ‘hectic’ year, according to Ekstra Bladet. The 20-year-old left FC Copenhagen to join the Foxes in January and he made 12 league appearances for the latter in the second half of last season. Leicester were relegated from the Premier League last season and the left-back was allowed to join

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Leicester City’s Victor Kristiansen has experienced a ‘hectic’ year, according to Ekstra Bladet.

The 20-year-old left FC Copenhagen to join the Foxes in January and he made 12 league appearances for the latter in the second half of last season.

Leicester were relegated from the Premier League last season and the left-back was allowed to join Bologna on loan in the summer window.

Enzo Maresca took charge of the club for this season and the report states the manager wanted to convert the Denmark international into a centre-back. This didn’t please the defender and help convinced him to make a temporary switch to Bologna.

“I noticed (the position change) when we were at training camp this summer, but missed being part of the offensive game. So I was happy that we could jointly find a solution,” he told Ekstra Bladet.

Brendan Rodgers was Leicester’s manager when the defender arrived at the club.

Prior to his move to England, he spent his time at Copenhagen. On his decision to move to Leicester, Kristiansen explained: “It has been hard. I probably experienced the hardest way to go abroad.

“I joined a dysfunctional team with a coach under pressure, who was then fired [in April]. I was in a difficult position as a young and newly acquired player, where I suddenly had to help save the club.

“I was alone and thought for a quiet moment if it is really like this to be abroad. It was hard to deal with, and it has left some scars on the soul. It was definitely not what I was hoping for when I went out. That’s why I was happy that this summer we could find a solution, so I was loaned out to Bologna.”

The Dane has made 10 appearances this season for the Serie A side, who have an option to make his stay permanent. The Leicester owned player remains hopeful that he can extend his stay at Bologna beyond this season.

“I have settled in very well at Bologna and hope that we will find a good solution next summer,” he added.

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Player lined up for ‘huge switch’ to Tottenham – Work starting now for summer http://sportwitness.co.uk/player-lined-huge-switch-tottenham-work-starting-now-summer/ http://sportwitness.co.uk/player-lined-huge-switch-tottenham-work-starting-now-summer/#respond Wed, 15 Nov 2023 10:16:43 +0000 http://sportwitness.co.uk/?p=447536 Tottenham Hotspur are in the picture to sign Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi. The midfielder has a deal expiring in 2024 and the possibility of securing his services for free next summer has attracted Barcelona. According to Punch Sports Extra, the 26-year-old could make a ‘huge switch’ away from Leicester next summer, and the La Liga side

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Tottenham Hotspur are in the picture to sign Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi.

The midfielder has a deal expiring in 2024 and the possibility of securing his services for free next summer has attracted Barcelona.

According to Punch Sports Extra, the 26-year-old could make a ‘huge switch’ away from Leicester next summer, and the La Liga side will have to battle it out with Tottenham for his signature.

The Nigeria international was linked with a move away from the King Power Stadium in the last window, following the Foxes’ relegation. He can walk away for free after this season, if Leicester fail to tie him down to a new deal.

It’s said the possibility of the player renewing will depend on Enzo Maresca’s side returning to the top flight. Leicester are currently leading the Championship table and are eight ahead of third placed Leeds United.

Spurs seem to have already started work to try to sign Ndidi next summer. Punch Sports Extra make no mention of whether Tottenham would still battle it out if he were to sign a new deal at Leicester.

Ndidi has three goals and four assists from 15 games this season.

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Leicester star still expected to be on club’s radar for January after summer interest – Would be odd move http://sportwitness.co.uk/leicester-star-still-expected-clubs-radar-january-summer-interest-odd-move/ http://sportwitness.co.uk/leicester-star-still-expected-clubs-radar-january-summer-interest-odd-move/#respond Tue, 14 Nov 2023 14:36:59 +0000 http://sportwitness.co.uk/?p=447386 Back in Leicester City’s first-team after being shunned by Brendan Rodgers, Jannik Vestergaard is enjoying himself with Enzo Maresca in charge, as the Foxes top the table. The centre-back is also back in the Denmark squad, which he’s delighted about, but all this has also brought some interest from clubs, such as Anderlecht. This is

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Back in Leicester City’s first-team after being shunned by Brendan Rodgers, Jannik Vestergaard is enjoying himself with Enzo Maresca in charge, as the Foxes top the table.

The centre-back is also back in the Denmark squad, which he’s delighted about, but all this has also brought some interest from clubs, such as Anderlecht.

This is what HLN are reporting on Tuesday, relayed by Walfoot, who explain that a recent injury to Jan Vertonghen caused the Belgian side to think about signing a new centre-back, just in case something serious were to happen to the former Tottenham man or Zeno Debast.

That’s where the Leicester player comes in, as HLN recalls Anderlecht were already interested in him over the summer, and that is unlikely to have changed.

As well as Vestergaard, Viborg defender Nicolas Bürgy is also likely on the list, but it’s also pointed out that anyone who would arrive in January would have to be patient, as the idea would be for Vertonghen and Debast to finish the season together.

Whether that’s a situation the Leicester player would want to join remains to be seen, especially when taking into account the fact his team are topping the Championship and he is a key player with Maresca.

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