Jamie Vardy reveals shock Leicester City request and why trio said ‘it’s not happening’
The Leicester City legend has been talking about his time on the King Power Stadium and how his first season on the membership was an eye-opener following his transfer from Fleetwood
Jamie Vardy has revealed how he contemplated a quickfire return to Fleetwood on mortgage after his first season in a Leicester City shirt.
Vardy was talking to Gary Lineker for the Rest is Football podcast when he mentioned the difficulties adapting to life within the Championship following his £1m transfer from Fleetwood.
The Leicester legend, now playing with Cremonese in Italyhit 5 targets in 29 appearances in his first marketing campaign which led him to contemplate a transfer again to the membership that offered him.
But Vardy revealed how the administration crew of Nigel Pearson, Steve Walsh and the late Craig Shakespeare put a cease to it as a result of they firmly believed he would go on to become one of the most formidable strikers in England.
“It was more than that first season for me,” said Vardy.
“In my eyes didn’t go as I’d planned. I thought it was just going to be, right, I’ve done it, well, I’ve done this previously so it’ll just now go into this.
“But you do not notice how large a distinction the physicality is, the tempo of the sport, what stamina you want fitness-wise and issues like that.
“I had to work hard. I remember saying to Nigel Pearson at the time, Steve Walsh, and Craig Shakespeare, God bless him, because I was struggling.
“But I knew I’d executed it at Fleetwood. And I used to be like, look, it is not working, I’ll return on mortgage to Fleetwood as a result of I do know it really works there.
“That’s how I had it thought in my head. But they said no, it’s not happening and that they had brought me here because ‘we believe in you’.
“They said we all know which you can go on to larger and higher issues so it is not taking place. That summer season was all about ensuring I used to be match as I might be after we went again.”
Speaking about Pearson’s affect, Vardy added: “He was large.
“The main thing I always got from him is that he was a great manager, a great coach, but that he fully understood the human side, the mental side and the physical and mental strain he had on players.
“He had that right down to a T, and he wasn’t silly with it. He would say all of you might be off tomorrow go spend it with your loved ones, go spend it with your mates, you want a break.
“I don’t think a lot of managers get that nowadays.”
