Jamie Vardy was captivated by Cremonese’s underdog journey as the Leicester City legend looks to craft a fresh chapter in his illustrious career.
Vardy was officially unveiled by the Italian outfit on Wednesday afternoon as he embarks on a new phase in his footballing life, bringing an end to his 13-year spell at the King Power Stadium this past summer.
Recently-promoted Cremonese have started their Serie A campaign with consecutive victories, including a memorable triumph over AC Milan at the San Siro, drawing inevitable parallels with City’s improbable title success.
But Vardy stresses, just as it was under Claudio Ranieri at Leicester, that the priority is survival above all else, regardless of where they may currently sit in the standings.
The forward himself is once again out to silence doubters. At Leicester, his mission was to show a former non-league striker could thrive in the Premier League. Now, at 38, he must prove he still has the stamina to perform at the highest level.
Vardy said: “After speaking with (owner Giovanni) Arvedi and (manager Davide) Nicola, I realised that the primary objective is survival, just like it was at Leicester.
“Then, of course, you try to give your all in every match. In football, anyone can beat anyone. That’s what we train for.
“My entire career, I’ve been underestimated, and I’ve worked to change everyone’s minds, and I’ve succeeded.
“At the start of the season, almost no one believed Cremonese would survive, and fighting to reverse the odds is what convinced me. It’s been a great start, but we know it’s going to be a long one.
“For me, age is a number. I always listen to my legs. As long as there are no problems, I’ll continue.
“I’ve already played the Italian style under (Enzo) Maresca. Many said it wasn’t for me, but I finished the season with 20 goals. You’re never too old to learn.
“I want to show everyone why I’m here, prove anyone who doubts me wrong, and battle for 95 minutes with my team-mates to get results. Hopefully, in the long run, it’ll be enough to save us.”
Instead of Ranieri, it was Leicester’s other Italian coach, Maresca, who influenced Vardy’s switch to Serie A.
He also believes that his experience under City’s Championship-winning boss will prepare him to succeed in Italy.
Vardy added: “I only stayed in touch with Maresca, I spoke to him all summer. He had such beautiful words for the city and the club, and from then on I never hesitated.
“Ever since I was young, I’ve watched the Italian league on TV. It’s a competitive league, among the best in the world.
“It’s perhaps more tactical than the Premier League, but I’ve already played under Maresca, and I know how to play in these teams.
“I haven’t had a chance to speak to (Ranieri) yet, but he’s always had nice things to say about me, so I don’t want to disappoint him.”
The Leicester similarities stretch beyond the pitch, with a clock tower also standing at the heart of Cremona.
The striking Torrazzo of Cremona is the third tallest bell tower on the planet and houses the world’s oldest astronomical clock.
“(My welcome) was fantastic,” Vardy added. “They told me it was a quiet place, but it was anything but in the first few days! It was a lot of fun.
“I got to explore the city a bit, and I even climbed the Torrazzo. The language is a problem at the moment, but football is a universal language.”
Vardy’s first appearance for his new side could come on Monday night, when they visit Verona.