Former Inter Milan and Real Madrid midfielder Esteban Cambiasso has announced he would be parting ways with Leicester City after seeing out his one-year contract. Cambiasso was instrumental in Leicester’s late-season heroics, which culminated in their improbable Premier League survival.
The 34-year-old Argentine was voted the club’s player of the year last season, scoring five goals in 33 appearances for the club. Manager Claudio Ranieri pleaded with his star man to stay on for another season, but Cambiasso rejected the offer of a contract extension.
Cambiasso confirmed via his Facebook page:
“I would like to announce that I have decided not to renew my contract with Leicester City,
I have taken this decision only 24 hours after receiving the proposal from Leicester because I want to give the club as much time as possible to find an alternative.
I would like to thanks all the fans who last season made me feel proud to be part of a club with an unforgettable spirit and energy.
And a very special thanks to all my team mates, staff and every people of the club, with whom I have lived one of the most important years of my career, crowned with the remaining EPL status.
Many thanks to everyone, keeping you all for ever in my heart Leicester City Football Club.”
The distinguished veteran is now a free agent, and will have no shortage of offers from interested parties — a sentiment Leicester’s director of football, Jon Rudkin, previously echoed.
“In relation to Esteban, we spoke with him at the end of the season,” Rudkin said.“We’re trying very hard to sign him for the next season. Hopefully in the near future we will get answers one way or another.
“We are very hopeful. He is a world-class footballer who is well sought after.”
Leicester found themselves at the bottom of the league table from match day 13 all the way to match day 32, before the Foxes went on an inspired run of form, winning seven and drawing one of their last ten games. They concluded their season with a 5-1 drubbing of eventual basement boys Queens Park Rangers.
