Kasper Schmeichel’s father explains why Aston Villa did not sign Leicester icon

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Premier League winner and Leicester City legend Kasper Schmeichel missed out on a move to Aston Villa in his younger days, his iconic father explains.

A massive part of the Leicester City side who defied the odds to claim English football’s crown back in 2016, Kasper ensured that success stayed in the family during that remarkable campaign alongside N’Golo Kante, Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez and co.

Peter Schmeichel, of course, picked up five Premier League winner’s medals of his own under Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United in the 1990s before heading south to Aston Villa.

Kasper, meanwhile, spent time in Villa’s academy while his father was representing the Midland giants. And Schmeichel Sr admits that Villa missed out on the opportunity to tie down a man who would later become an iconic figure some 40 miles north at Leicester.

Aston Villa could have had Kasper Schmeichel

“I don’t know why people didn’t see what was evident. (Kasper’s talent) was there at the beginning,” arguably the Premier League’s greatest goalkeeper tells Kammy and Ben’s Proper Football podcast.

“The right people had him, they trained with him. He would have training sessions with the goalkeeping coach there (at Aston Villa). I saw the report and it just said; ‘Sign him!’. But they never did.

“I don’t think he got a fair opportunity until he got to Leicester.”

Kasper Schmeichal eventually made his top-flight bow some six years later at another of his father’s former employers; Manchester City. After spells at Leeds United and Notts County, the Denmark international joined Leicester in 2011 and spent a decade at the King Power, winning the FA Cup and the Community Shield as well before departing across the Channel to France.

36-year-old Schmeichel is now at an ambitious Nice side. The Ligue 1 outfit are bankrolled by British billionaire and would-be Manchester United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

Leicester, meanwhile, are yet to adequately replace their former number one; Danny Ward struggling between the sticks. The Foxes are reportedly lining up a potential summer bid for Sunderland’s Anthony Patterson.