Jamie Vardy hadn’t even arrived at his new club yet, but he was already getting a preview of what might lie ahead. A crowd of Cremonese supporters greeted him at Milan’s Linate Airport—50 miles from their hometown—even though it was nearly midnight on a Sunday. Vardy stepped out of his car to sign autographs, including one on a fan’s tattoo of his own face. The fans chanted, urging him to “take us to Europe.”
Even in a summer full of surprising late-career moves to Italy—like Kevin De Bruyne joining Napoli and Luka Modric signing with Milan—Vardy’s move to Cremonese stands out as the most unlikely. A former Ballon d’Or finalist, he’s joining a club with a 16,000-seat stadium and only brief spells in the top flight since its founding in 1903.
Promoted via the playoffs in June, this is Cremonese’s ninth season in Serie A. Six of their previous eight ended in relegation. The exceptions came back-to-back in 1993–94 and 1994–95, the latter featuring a young Enrico Chiesa up front.
Before this season, bookmakers had Cremonese as the favorites to go down—even ahead of fellow promoted sides Sassuolo and Pisa. But in their first two games, they’ve defied expectations of being out of their depth.
They opened with a stunning 2–1 win over Modric and Milan at San Siro—a night of historic firsts. It was Cremonese’s first-ever away win against Milan and their first opening-day victory in Serie A. All eight previous attempts had ended in defeat.
It was also the first time their new manager, Davide Nicola, had beaten Massimiliano Allegri. Hired this summer after the club chose not to renew the contract of promotion-winning coach Giovanni Stroppa, Nicola is known as Serie A’s survival specialist. In recent years, he’s guided Crotone, Genoa, Torino, Salernitana, and Empoli to 17th-place finishes.
After the win over Milan, Nicola emphasized the importance of a positive atmosphere: “Everyone’s happy to have given the fans some joy tonight. That energy is so important.”
The excitement carried over to their home match against Sassuolo on Friday. Rumors of Vardy’s arrival added to the buzz. Before kickoff, sporting director Simone Giacchetta described the situation to Dazn as “one of those things that starts as a joke but gradually takes shape.”
It helps that the club’s owner is a billionaire. Giovanni Arvedi bought Cremonese in 2007 when they were in the third tier. His investment has been key to their rise. While the club hasn’t spent recklessly—their total transfer outlay this summer is under €15 million—his backing likely eased wage negotiations for Vardy.
Cremonese took a 2–0 lead over Sassuolo by halftime. Filippo Terracciano scored from a corner, and Franco Vázquez tapped in Antonio Sanabria’s cross. But Sassuolo fought back after the break. Andrea Pinamonti turned and finished neatly, and Domenico Berardi converted a penalty after a clumsy foul by substitute Alberto Grassi.
Sassuolo pushed for a winner, but Cremonese won a penalty of their own in injury time when another substitute, Romano Floriani Mussolini, was fouled by Alieu Fadera. Manuel De Luca, whose two goals in the playoff final against Spezia secured Cremonese’s promotion, stepped up to take it.In June, he scored a penalty and then ran the length of the pitch to celebrate under the home Curva. Many readers will recognize his surname—Mussolini. He is the great-grandson of the fascist dictator Benito Mussolini and the son of Alessandra Mussolini, a former Italian and European parliament member. And yes, he plays on the right wing.
But he is also his own person. At 22, he insists politics doesn’t interest him, a stance perhaps reflected in his choice to wear his first name, Romano, on his shirt.
Nicola praised his performance on Sunday, noting with satisfaction that Cremonese had given a Serie A debut to four players in just two games. One of the most impressive aspects of their strong start is how many players have made meaningful contributions.
Cremonese play in a 3-5-2 formation under Nicola. Their front two against Milan were David Okereke and Federico Bonazzoli, who sealed the win with a brilliant scissor-kick. Though Bonazzoli was injured against Sassuolo, Vázquez returned from suspension to start, and Sanabria was chosen to partner him. De Luca came on as a late substitute in both matches.
Each of these players brings different strengths, and the hierarchy isn’t yet clear. Sanabria and Bonazzoli have both worked with Nicola before, and Bonazzoli recently spoke highly of their relationship, saying, “His importance to me goes beyond the usual player-manager dynamic. He has a significant impact on my life.”
Still, the expectation is that Vardy will start. Despite turning 38 in January, the Englishman scored nine Premier League goals last season, and his direct style should suit Nicola’s system. Nicola prefers his teams to play in a low block, relying on fast breaks and efficient counterattacks—a style Cremonese have followed in their first two games.
It’s too early to draw firm conclusions, but there are positive signs beyond the results. Jari Vandeputte, a lower-league standout with 32 goals and 66 assists over the past four seasons in the second and third tiers (including playoffs), controlled the midfield and set up the opening goal against Sassuolo. Alessio Zerbin, on loan from Napoli, has impressed on the right.
Most importantly, Cremonese have six points, enough to briefly put them top of the table on Friday night, though other clubs have since caught up.
Vardy’s arrival has amplified the excitement around this underdog story. Leicester’s 2015–16 Premier League title was widely celebrated in Italy, where fans felt a connection through Claudio Ranieri. There was patriotic pride in seeing one of Italy’s most likable exports achieve such an unlikely triumph in the world’s richest league.
Now, for an English symbol of that success to come to Italy years later has sparked waves of happy nostalgia. The fans who greeted Vardy at Linate were asking him to take them on a European adventure.So far, their club’s ninth season in the top flight is shaping up to be a compelling story of its own.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|—–|————-|—-|—-|—–|
| 1 | Juventus | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| 2 | Napoli | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| 3 | Cremonese | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| 4 | Roma | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| 5 | Udinese | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 6 | Inter Milan | 2 | 4 | 3 |
| 7 | Lazio | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| 8 | AC Milan | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 9 | Como | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 10 | Bologna | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 11 | Atalanta | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 12 | Fiorentina | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 13 | Cagliari | 2 | -1 | 1 |
| 14 | Pisa | 2 | -1 | 1 |
| 15 | Genoa | 2 | -1 | 1 |
| 16 | Parma | 2 | -2 | 1 |
| 17 | Lecce | 2 | -2 | 1 |
| 18 | Verona | 2 | -4 | 1 |
| 19 | Torino | 2 | -5 | 1 |
| 20 | Sassuolo | 2 | -3 | 0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about Jamie Vardys potential move to Cremonese written in a clear and natural tone
General Beginner Questions
Q Who is Jamie Vardy
A Hes a famous English striker best known for being the top scorer when Leicester City famously won the Premier League against all odds in 2016
Q What is this underdog journey about
A It refers to Vardy potentially joining a team Cremonese that is a major underdog and trying to help them achieve success much like he did with Leicester
Q Who are Cremonese
A Cremonese is an Italian football club nicknamed I Grigiorossi They recently earned promotion to Serie B and are considered a classic underdog team
Q Is this move confirmed
A As of the article by Nicky Bandini it was a strong possibility being discussed but not officially confirmed Its important to check the latest news for updates
Advanced Detailed Questions
Q Why would Jamie Vardy leave Leicester for a Serie B team
A At this stage in his career its likely about a new challenge the unique experience of playing in Italy and the opportunity to be the main star in another exciting underdog story
Q What does Nicky Bandinis article suggest about the move
A The title suggests the move has a strong feelgood narrative aligning with Vardys history of defying expectations and creating memorable football stories
Q How could Vardys style of play fit in Italian football
A His incredible pace and directness on the counterattack could be a potent weapon against Italian teams even if he has lost a step as his movement and finishing are still topclass
Q What are the potential challenges for Vardy in this move
A Key challenges would be adapting to a new country a new language a different style of play in Italy and his age Moving from the Premier League to Serie B is also a significant step down in league profile
Q What would this move mean for Cremonese
