James Maddison says leaving Leicester off back of relegation will scar him forever in candid interview
James Maddison, the 26-year-old midfielder, recently opened up about his departure from Leicester City and how the experience of relegation has affected him deeply. After spending five seasons with the Foxes, Maddison made a move to Tottenham Hotspur earlier this summer.
During his time at Leicester, Maddison proved to be an invaluable asset to the team. His contributions helped the club secure the FA Cup in 2021 and make appearances in both the Europa League and Europa Conference League. However, despite his efforts, he was unable to prevent the team from being relegated from the Premier League in his final season.
In an interview with talkSPORT at the TNT Sports launch, Maddison expressed his fondness for Leicester and the strong relationships he had built with everyone at the club, including the fans, owner, and staff. He admitted that the disappointing end to his time there, marked by relegation, has left a lasting impact on him. Leaving on such a sour note has scarred him, as he holds the club in high regard and feels a sense of pride as one of the players who helped bring Leicester back to the Championship.
Nevertheless, Maddison acknowledged that he is a professional and must move forward. He expressed his hope that Leicester will quickly regain their Premier League status and emphasized his belief in the club’s potential. However, he also made it clear that Tottenham is now his club, and he is fully focused on his new journey with them.
Maddison’s move to Spurs was confirmed just one month after Leicester’s relegation. Throughout his time with the Foxes, he made 203 appearances across all competitions, scoring 55 goals and providing 41 assists. He has already integrated himself into the Tottenham squad, participating in their pre-season tour across Australia and Asia.
In conclusion, Maddison’s departure from Leicester City and the experience of relegation have left a lasting impact on him. However, he is now fully committed to his new club, Tottenham Hotspur, and is looking forward to the future with them.
In a candid interview, Premier League superstar, James Maddison, recently addressed his disappointment about having to leave Leicester City after their relegation.
The 24-year-old, who has been a key figure for Leicester for the past three seasons, admits that having to depart his boyhood club will be a major blow both professionally and emotionally for him.
Having initially joined the club from Norwich City in June 2018, Maddison scored 24 goals and provided 20 assists in his 118 appearances for the club. He also played a major part in their incredible Premier League title success two seasons ago.
However, Maddison admits that he’ll ‘always feel the pain’ of being part of a team that was unable to maintain their top-flight status.
“It’s been an emotional rollercoaster,” Maddison, said. “I’m very disappointed and feel a lot of hurt because of the relegation. I’m going to miss Leicester. It’s going to take a while for it to sink in. It’s going to be with me for the rest of my career.
“I feel a huge responsibility, especially to the European-qualifying season. We let the club down. I’m so sorry to the supporters. They’ve been amazing from day one. It still surprises me how passionate and dedicated they are to the team.”
Maddison also paid tribute to the work of the manager, Brendan Rodgers, who took charge in February 2019, and the backroom staff:
“Everyone at Leicester have been brilliant,” he said. “It was an unbelievable experience and to play a part in our League Cup win was magical. The club will forever have a place in my heart.”
Maddison is now likely to move on to a new challenge with a Premier League club this summer, but it’s a safe bet he’ll never forget his time at Leicester.