Euro 2020 winner Domenico Berardi has held “in-depth” talks with Leicester City regarding a potential January switch to the Premier League, according to Calciomercato.
It has been three years since Riyad Mahrez proved player power rules the roost in modern football.
After allegedly going on strike in an attempt to force through a then-club record £60 million move to Manchester City, the 2016 PFA player of the year got his wish – much to the chagrin of many at the King Power Stadium.
It turns out “I want” does, sometimes, get.
Since that fateful July day when one of the greatest players in Leicester’s history skipped off into the sunset, the Foxes have done their level best to replace him.
And with decidedly disappointing results, it’s safe to say.
Rachid Ghezzal was a disaster, Cengiz Under a disappointment. Barcelona, meanwhile, rejected a large bid for Francisco Trincao (now of Wolverhampton Wanderers) last summer, while Florian Thauvin chose the Mexican sun over life in Leicester.
Berardi, however, may be the closest Leicester will ever get to finding someone capable of emulating Mahrez’s impact on the right-hand side.
Could Berardi move mean Leicester City finally replace Mahrez?
Like the Algerian superstar, the so-called ‘Totti of Sassuolo’ loves nothing more than cutting inside before firing off shots with his left boot.
He produced a career-best 17 goals and eight assists last season before helping Italy triumph at Euro 2020.
But while Berardi may share Francesco Totti’s ability to pull a rabbit out of the hat, it looks unlikely he’ll join the ‘Eighth King Of Rome’ in the exclusive ‘one-club man’ clan.
“Some time ago he asked to leave but, to date, no proposals have arrived,” Sassuolo chief executive Giovanni Carnevali said a fortnight ago of a man who had also been linked with Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur.
With Calciomercato reporting Berardi’s price tag has dropped from £35 million to £30 million, offers won’t be in short supply next year. AC Milan are keen, while Leicester are already understood to be holding talks.
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