(Credit: Imago)

Ciaran Morrison

Wed 10 September 2025 19:10, UK

Jamie Vardy has revealed the reason why he decided to join Serie A side Cremonese over Scottish champions Celtic.

Vardy left Leicester City after 13 years at the King Power, leading the Foxes to a Premier League title in 2016.

Former Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers wanted Vardy to join Celtic, as the Hoops struggled to source a striker before the arrival of Kelechi Iheanacho after the transfer window shut.

Vardy opted to join Cremonese instead a side promoted from Serie B in Italy to the top division last season over the attraction of staying in Britain and European football.

Enzo Maresca convinced Jamie Vardy to make Italy move

The 38-year-old’s reasons for joining Cremonese was down to current Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca.

Sky Sport’s Gianluca Di Marzio, posting on X, shared that Vardy said he and Maresca had been speaking throughout the summer.

“I spent the whole summer talking with Maresca, he spoke wonderful words about the city and the club,” Vardy said.

“He advised me to come play here.”

Maresca managed Vardy at Leicester during their Championship winning 2023-24 campaign before the Italian departed for West London.

Kelechi Iheanacho could make Celtic debut vs Kilmarnock

Whilst it took longer than anticipated, Rodgers was able to convince Iheanacho, another former Leicester City striker to join him in Glasgow.

Iheanacho has confirmed he will be available for Celtic‘s match at Kilmarnock after the international break.

The 28-year-old’s spells at Sevilla and Middlesborough have not worked out and the Nigerian is looking to reignite his career at Celtic.

Iheanacho will have to convince the Celtic supporters that his arrival was not a late panic purchase, but there were also reservations about Vardy should he had signed.

Tensions are high at Celtic right now and Iheanacho will be under pressure after Adam Idah left to join Swansea, which left Rodgers short of natural number nines.