Jamie Vardy names the former Leicester City manager that persuaded him to join Cremonese

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Leicester City legend Jamie Vardy is enjoying a new life in Italy following the end of his 13 years at the Foxes.

Vardy will wear the number 10 at Cremonese after agreeing to join the Serie A side on a one-year contract.

Robin van Persie tried to bring the former Leicester man to Feyenoord, but Vardy preferred the underdog option.

It was a left-field move that nobody saw coming and when asked how he was influenced to join the town of Cremona, one Italian contact stood out.

• READ MORE: Leicester City’s most valuable player is yet to kick a ball for them this season

Jamie Vardy reveals the role Enzo Maresca played in Cremonese move

Claudio Ranieri is the first Italian hero that springs to mind when you think of Leicester because of the Premier League title win.

Esteban Cambiasso also knows Serie A like the back of his hand after a decorated spell at Inter Milan, but it was Enzo Maresca who gave him the motivation to try his luck in the Italian top flight.

To most people’s surprise, Vardy revealed that Maresca is the only one of the three he speaks to regularly.

At his formal unveiling, he said: “I only stayed in touch with Maresca, I spoke to him all summer. He had such beautiful words for the city and the club, and from then on I never hesitated.

“Ever since I was young, I’ve watched the Italian league on TV. It’s a competitive league, among the best in the world.

“It’s perhaps more tactical than the Premier League, but I’ve already played under Maresca, and I know how to play in these teams.

“I haven’t had a chance to speak to (Ranieri) yet, but he’s always had nice things to say about me, so I don’t want to disappoint him.”

When will Jamie Vardy make his Cremonese debut?

Now that the international break is over, all eyes will be on when the 38-year-old makes his debut.

After waiting until the end of August to sign for his new club, Vardy is lacking in match fitness and will need time to get up to speed.

Unlike most people though, Vardy is built differently and could even be ready to play in his new side’s first game after the international break, which is against Hellas Verona on Monday 15 September.

Kick-off is at 5:30PM UK time, but it sadly isn’t on TV.