Claudio Ranieri told his jubilant Leicester City players last night to stay and be “kings” as he warned potential suitors for the Barclays Premier League title-winners that it will take huge money to prise them away.
As Ranieri and his team celebrated winning with joyous supporters on another astonishing day in the city, the Italian urged his squad to stick with Leicester, who were crowned champions on Monday, and not be seduced by the lure of bigger clubs.
His warning came as Leicester’s Thai owners pledged not to sell prized assets including Riyad Mahrez, the PFA Player of the Year, Jamie Vardy, the record-breaking striker, and N’Golo Kanté, the star midfielder.
Leicester’s stunning season, which culminated when they were crowned the most unlikely champions in Premier League history after Chelsea fought back to draw 2-2 with Tottenham Hotspur, has brought their top players to the attention of wealthy clubs across Europe.
Ranieri said: “I would like to maintain all my players. If one of my players says to me ‘I want to go there’, I will try to keep him.
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“I will suggest to everybody this is a fantastic club, we won the title, we can do something good in these few years. If you go away you don’t know what will happen. Here you are the king.
“It is much better to stay here for one year more and see what happens. Then maybe you can go anywhere. The Champions League is another important league to compare yourself to the other champions. The lads are like my sons. If they come to me, I say this: ‘be careful’. Leicester in the long term will go to a very high position.”
Leicester players were cheered as they arrived for training before the team coach took them to a celebratory lunch with the club’s owners in the city centre, surrounded by thousands of people.
“We are not the team that will sell players for money,” said Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, the club’s vice-chairman and son of Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, the principal owner.
“So, I can confirm that we will keep all major players with the team.”
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Ranieri conceded that bids are likely, but he smiled: “Yes, but I will say: ‘Do you have enough money to buy my players?’
“We don’t need the superstars. We need our players. I want to improve the squad without big stars but with the right players.”
Ranieri, meanwhile, played down the significance of his future, with Leicester expected to offer the 64-year-old an improved contract after he signed for three years last summer.
“I have three years,” he said. “Why do I have to sign a new contract? It is not my job, my job is to go on the pitch.”
“If you go away you don’t know what will happen. Here you are the king.
A Thai monk who has regularly blessed the team during their astonishing rise, believes they will have few problems taking on the giants of European football. “I believe the power of Buddhism . . . given through the Buddhist monk and executives has created teamwork and unity in the team,” Phra Prommangkalachan said.
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The squad will receive bonuses of up to £360,000 depending on appearances for finishing above 12th-place — an indication of pre-season aspirations when the targets were agreed.
The players will be presented with the Premier League trophy after Saturday’s home game against Everton. “I can’t wait to lift the trophy and get my hands on it,” said Wes Morgan, the captain.