Jamie Vardy: Claudio Ranieri betrayal reports 'completely untrue, unfounded and extremely hurtful'

A number of reports published on Friday and Saturday claimed that Vardy was among a group of Leicester players who were 'summoned' to a meeting on Wednesday with owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha that effectively ended Claudio Ranieri’s reign.

Matt Hughes wrote in The Times that "a group of senior players which included Kasper Schmeichel, Wes Morgan, Marc Albrighton and Jamie Vardy met Srivaddhanaprabha at the team’s hotel in Seville following their 2-1 Champions League defeat and were asked for their observations on the team’s decline from last season’s Premier League triumph".

The Sun added on Saturday morning that "treacherous Leicester stars met FOUR times with the club’s owners in an attempt to get Ranieri sacked" and also reported that Vardy "was one of the Leicester stars who met with Leicester’s chairman the day before Ranieri was sacked".

On Saturday evening, Vardy moved to respond to the reports and speculation that he was part of a group of Leicester players who betrayed the popular Italian and ensured that he was removed from his post.

"I must have written and deleted my words to this post a stupid amount of times! I owed [it to] Claudio to find the right and appropriate words!" Vardy wrote on Instagram.

"Claudio has and always will have my complete respect! What we achieved together and as a team was the impossible! He believed in me when many didn't and for that I owe him my eternal gratitude.

"I wish Claudio the very, very best in whatever the future holds for him. Thank You Claudio for everything."

Quite simply, Vardy had to respond, such was the weight of speculation surrounding his conduct in the days prior to Ranieri's sacking. The newspaper reports on Saturday morning, some of which have been referenced above, were pretty damning of his behaviour, along with a group of Leicester players and, if he felt the claims were unfair, he had to attempt to clarify the situation.

Many fans appear to have already decided that Vardy and several of his team-mates were in part to blame for Ranieri's dismissal, but the striker has at least put his feelings towards Ranieri on the record and reiterated his admiration and gratitude to the Italian for all he did for his individual career and for the club. Opinion from supporters appears to be pretty split in the wake of Vardy's comments.

One thing is clear: Monday evening's match between Leicester and Liverpool at the King Power will be a very emotional occasion with fans set to make their feelings clear towards the board and likely some of the players, who have underperformed so badly in the club's defence of their improbable and incredible Premier League triumph.