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Claudio Ranieri Claims Premier League Rivals Were 'Determined' To Appoint Him

Claudio Ranieri Claims Premier League Rivals Were 'Determined' To Appoint Him

The Tinkerman almost ended up in another Premier League dugout

Joe Baiamonte

Joe Baiamonte

Featured image credit: PA Images

Claudio Ranieri may have spent several years hopping from one managerial post to the next after his dismissal from Chelsea, in 2004, but the Leicester City manager almost made his way to another Premier League team before he landed at the King Power Stadium.

According to Football Italia, Ranieri snubbed Manchester City in 2007, opting instead to take the Juventus job, leaving the City hotseat free for Sven Goran Eriksson.

Speaking to Calcio 2000, the Leicester manage revealed, "Manchester City were determined to have me, but the new owner delayed in concluding the negotiations. This allowed Juventus to step in and you cannot turn down a club like that.

"In any case, I will say it honestly, I'd have been happy to go back to the Premier League. It would've been my first option."

Claudio Ranieri
Claudio Ranieri

Image credit: PA Images

Given that Eriksson endured a difficult season under the ownership of Thaksin Shinawatra during the 07/08 season, it's hard to believe that Ranieri would have enjoyed much better luck than the Swede at the Etihad stadium, during that period. As it was, 'The Tinkerman' would spend the best part of two years with Juve, before being sacked with just two games to go in the 2008/09 campaign.

(H/T Football Italia)

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Topics: Manchester City, Leicester City, Claudio Ranieri, Football, Premier League