Leicester City supporters have come to the fierce defence of their club legend Jamie Vardy after Italian media outlets criticised the striker’s debut start for Serie A side Cremonese — and their reaction shows just how deeply the 38-year-old is still adored back home.
After Vardy’s first full start for the Italian club, local outlets such as Football Italia and Gazzetta dello Sport offered mixed reviews of his performance, with some suggesting the former Premier League champion “let his side down” by missing key chances.
But while the Italian press were quick to judge, Leicester fans were quicker to respond — and they did so with passion, humour, and undying loyalty.
🗣️ “He can still run hard, which has always been his thing. Guy was a late bloomer, he probably didn’t start growing facial hair until his early 20s. 38 on him is like 29 on Rooney. All I’m saying.”
Supporters rallied across social media to remind critics that Vardy’s work rate and intensity have always defied his age. Many believe that, just like during his rise from non-league football to Premier League glory, the veteran forward deserves time to adapt and prove himself in Italy.
🗣️ “Everyone wants everything immediately these days. Give the bloke a chance.”
🗣️ “His first start in a new team. Give the goat a chance. Flipping eck.”
Others took a lighter tone, poking fun at the Italian media’s quick judgement and defending Vardy’s trademark spirit and personality.
🗣️ “You have to have Red Bull and Blue WKD on tap for Jamie, pretty sure it’s the Italians who betrayed Jamie 🙄.”
🗣️ “If they hate him now you wait till they meet his Mrs.”
Some fans, however, couldn’t resist turning their attention to Cremonese themselves, reminding everyone that the newly promoted Serie A club is far from Italy’s elite.
🗣️ “How many titles is it that Cremonese has?”
🗣️ “Cremonese are not giants of Serie A, a yoyo club, which will be familiar to Vardy.”
Not every Leicester fan agreed on the fairytale return, though. A few questioned Cremonese’s decision to sign a 38-year-old striker still commanding decent wages, but even those comments carried a tone of begrudging respect for a player who once led Leicester to Premier League immortality.
🗣️ “Cremonese must be muppets, a 38-year-old one-trick pony on huge wages for them. Struggled in the Championship latterly.”
🗣️ “He’s not Italian, of course he got bad mouthed by their reporters.”
For Leicester fans, though, Vardy’s legacy remains untouchable. The man who rose from factory work and Fleetwood Town to lift the Premier League title has earned eternal admiration — and no amount of foreign criticism will change that.
As one supporter put it perfectly: Vardy may have swapped King Power blue for Cremonese red and grey, but in the hearts of Foxes fans, he’ll forever be “the Goat.”