Jamie Vardy displayed his fiery side once again at his official Cremonese unveiling after a reporter suggested the Englishman’s best years may be behind him.
The 38-year-old made the switch to the newly-promoted Italian club on a one-year deal after leaving Leicester City at the end of last season.
It was suggested that the move represents something of swan song finish to the Englishman’s career as he nears retirement – but it seems for Vardy that’s far from the case.
At his official unveiling as a Cremonese player on Wednesday at the peculiar location of the city’s violin museum, a reporter prompted a characteristically angry response from Vardy with a question about his age and motivation.
The journalist asked: ‘In Italy we are a little bit sceptical about players like you that are approaching their 40th birthday. We tend to say where’s their motivation, how fit are they? What you say in response to these sceptics?’
‘You must be one of the doubters,’ Vardy snapped.
Jamie Vardy snapped at a reporter during his official unveiling as a Cremonese player
The Englishman made the switch to Cremonese last month after spending 13 years at Leicester City
‘You’re one that I’ll have to prove wrong. No, listen, for me age is just a number. As long as, I’ve always said it, my legs are still doing exactly what they used to and still feel as fresh as they do then I will carry on.
‘At the moment there are no signs of them slowing down so I’ll keep going and like I say I will be giving my all for this club.’
Vardy is currently living in Italy along with his reality star wife Rebekah, 43, while their five children remain in Leicester pending visas.
The footballer admitted it’s been tough uprooting to another country but said the reception he’s received in Lombardy – which has even been compared to that of Cristiano Ronaldo at Juventus – has been ‘absolutely brilliant’.
He added: ‘Originally there was talk of it happening and obviously coming into a different country, its tough, so you have to make sure you have them conversations with my wife, my kids, loved ones because it is going to be a big change but one thing that happened was, thanks to technology, I was able to get on a zoom call with the manager.
‘We spoke for 45 minutes to an hour, showing his passion for the club and how he is wanting to push on. And just looking in his eyes and what he wanted, that really resonated with myself and I think as a footballer, it is always nice to feel wanted.
‘It will just be slightly different until they [the children] get to come out here. The good thing is that kids aren’t at school at a weekend so we’ve already been looking at fixtures that especially the boys they want to come out and watch.
‘So it will be things like that and me not getting to see them is not forever its possibly a week at a time. But like you say, FaceTime and stuff like that it works wonders. The kids are still buzzing that I’m saying goodnight every night and ringing them before I go to training and before they go to school.
The move has seen Jamie uproot to Lombardy with his reality TV star wife Rebekah Vardy
The 38-year-old could make his debut for his new club at the San Siro on Saturday
‘All in all its absolutely fine and like you say, my wife has been by my side and still here now. We are both missing the kids but its not forever and they’ll be out here soon.’
Vardy joins an in-form Cremonese who, despite only being promoted to Serie A last season, sit joint top of the league after its opening two fixtures.
The former England international could be in-line to make what his debut at the iconic San Siro this Saturday as Cremonese travel to face to Inter Milan.
