Yohan Benalouane reveals he “didn’t want to leave” Atalanta for Leicester City, but €8m was too much to turn down. The 28-year-old Tunisian defender has already said goodbye to his teammates in Bergamo. “I couldn’t say anything before the deal had been concluded, but I so wanted to. I will come back to see you often, as I love this city so much and really am leaving my heart here,” Benalouane told the Bergamo Post. “I left the training camp in tears on Friday, because I really care for everyone. I send a huge embrace to all my teammates and fans. “I didn’t want to leave Atalanta and would gladly have stayed, but an offer of €8m is a lot for a club like Atalanta. “I love this side so much that I accepted and hope with all my heart that my departure will help the directors make my beloved Atalanta even stronger. “I made this decision by thinking of what was best for Atalanta. One day I will return to Bergamo, be certain of it.” The transfer fee was reportedly €7m, but Benalouane insists it stands at €8m including bonuses (around £5.6m).
Even a player who has reportedly signed is talking all about his old team and not a word about us...where are we finding these people
... took us an age to secure Cambiasso... actually refreshing to hear a bloke being honest and actually having some affection for the club he is leaving... hopefully he will feel the same about us in a few years...
Have to say, as each day passes, the more worried I am about the Ranieri appointment. This guy clearly doesn't want to come here. Atalanta have accepted our (most likely) ridiculous offer, and he has no other choice. We are trying to sign players who would never sign for us in a million years. Yes you can reference Cambiasso, but I don't think we went "over the top" in trying to sign him. We reportedly offered Aranguiz FOUR TIMES what Leverkusen were offering... We shouldn't be throwing as much money as possible to tempt players who would not normally even consider Leicester a possibility. We are heading down the route of ending up with a team of overpaid players who don't really want to be here. The rate we're going, surprised we won't bid for Ronaldo and Messi, you know, just to show that we're serious. At the moment, I'm nervous for the season ahead...
We've turned into another side that stays up for one season and seem to have dillusions of grandure and throwing money at it rather than following the model that has gained success. I have no idea how the season will pan out but definitely feeling like the soul of the club has been torn out
As I said when Ranieri was appointed, its a Sven mark 2. Offer stupid wages to players to get them to sign. Im always wary about players seeing us a step down from their current club because you question the motives We can't use Cambiasso as a example against this as their are 10 times the amount that prove it right
Didn't you ever listen to his interviews? Im over NP just prefer signing players who actually want to play for our club rather then filling the squad up on people here for the pay day Much rather see players with less ability giving their all for our club like Jamie Vardy to a lazy **** like Yakubu who came for the money
Steve Claridge said he didn't want to leave Birmingham when he signed for us - players say things like this to appease the fans of the club they've left, same as you do in life - 'Never burn your bridges' you don't know what's round the corner. If you aren't prepared to support the club or new manager then **** off and support whichever club NP turns up at - nobody I repeat nobody is bigger than the club, Jesus some people on here will be ****ing themselves into a frenzy if we get relegated or are bottom of the table for any period.
When have I said I won't support Ranieri, I have always said I will be fully behind him as our manager, I just wasnt behind his appointment. They are 2 completely different things. At the end of the day were all Leicester City fans not Nigel Pearson or Claudio Ranieri fans. I have supported the club before, during and will do after both managers times here. No one wants to see us relegated to able to say we told you so
Ive always said I will back Ranieri, never said anything different once he was appointed. I wasn't for his appointment but he here so I have backed him which all my posts have said Since he was appointed I have praised him for how he dealt with Cambiasso which he was right in doing IMO but I'm not too keen on our rumoured signings of Benalouane and Aranguez. Were making ridiculous offers for players who might no adapt to this league and last thing we want to be is lumbered with an expensive failure Ask Hull fans about Abel Hernandez
This is a pretty obvious "save face" interview, just because he enjoyed his time at his old club doesn't make his ability any worse.
talking to the Bergamo post i would expect a how much i lo9ve the club, fellow players and the fans quote talking to the mercury i will expect how excited i am for the future and how i am please to be a Lcfc player and the manager has a lot of experience and how he convinced me it was a great opportunity and how i cant wait to play for the club the manager and the fans after all what interest would an Atalanta fans have in reading what he will say to the mercury and to foxes fans.
Just translated the page and agree - all players sya that stuff and never diss their ex-club - why would they?
I actually like it when a player has affection towards his club and fans. He will probably do the same here
WTF are you on about? Have we got a gun to his head and forcing him to come? From what you are saying, we are a **** team so we should buy **** and remain **** instead of improving ourselves.
You are one of the most vocal anti-Raneiri people on here. And BTW neither NP or Ranieri have any control over signings so stop with the crap about how Peason would pull the plug or whatever - you are like a guy pining over his ex. Pearson is gone, show some support and if you can't go and watch rugby or something.
