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Jamie Vardy has not held back in sharing his views on Italian football after completing a challenging season with Serie A club Cremonese. The former Leicester City forward spoke openly about the demanding training sessions and the constant involvement of club executives, as he now returns to England.

Criticism of training intensity

In the opening episode of his new podcast, Jamie Vardy's Having A Party, the striker reflected in detail on his experience in Italy. After joining Cremonese on a free transfer, Vardy scored seven goals in 29 Serie A matches, but his contributions were not enough to prevent the team’s relegation from the top division.

The main focus of his criticism was on the heavy workload and the type of training enforced by Italian coaches, which he considered counterproductive for match performance.

Explaining his views, Vardy drew a clear contrast with the Premier League’s approach to physical conditioning: “How is Italian football compared to English football? It’s much slower, more defensive. Training is endless: run, run, run. Then when you get to the match, you’ve got nothing left to give. It’s not easy when you’re 38, 39, right? But it’s not just me. That’s how things work there. And the sporting director gets involved in everything – it’s crazy.”

Balancing mindset and recovery

Vardy also discussed the mental and physical preparation leading up to league fixtures. He suggested that the Italian training culture doesn’t allow players adequate recovery time, resulting in fatigue that hampers on-field performance.

To back his point, he shared a specific incident: “Before the Bologna match, we did what we usually do in England – had a day off after a game. Everyone came onto the pitch feeling fresh, and we won 3-1. The mood was amazing. I thought we’d continue like that. But no, right after that, we went straight back to daily training because ‘this match is really important.’ But how? Every match is important, there’s no difference – at least that’s how I see it.”

Family challenges and homecoming

His time in Italy wasn’t just tough on the field. Even though the Vardys settled into a scenic villa in Salo on Lake Garda, the family struggled to adapt to life abroad, leading Jamie to feel a deep sense of guilt.

Sharing his feelings about the move, he said: “To be honest, moving abroad with a family is really, really tough. Coming back? It felt amazing, honestly. We had already brought the boys back earlier. It was a real struggle. And I felt really guilty about that.”

Outlook on life and football’s role

Despite the difficulties of his Italian chapter, Vardy remains upbeat. He emphasised the importance of joy and humour in his game, recalling how football kept him from taking a darker path in life.

He wrapped up his reflection with a mix of sincerity and humour: “I’m at my best when I’m enjoying myself. You’ve got to laugh. I’ve always laughed, even when I was sitting on the bench in the lower leagues. I never gave up, and it’s all been worth it. Football saved me. I’ve got a self-destruct button – I could’ve gone down a completely different road, maybe even ended up in Alcatraz...”