The man who led the Foxes to the Premier League title has broken his silence on the plans for a European Super League which has led to widespread condemnation

Claudio Ranieri has broken his silence on the plans for a European Super League and says it would stop a repeat of Leicester City’s Premier League success.

The Italian led the Foxes to the Premier League title in 2016 against all the odds in what was a memorable campaign at the King Power Stadium as they defied the bookmakers to clinch the championship.

But Ranieri, who is currently in charge of Sampdoria, feels the formation of the European Super League would stop such feats from being achieved again as he urged UEFA to act.

“It’s very sad for me,” he said.

“Super League is so bad, I hope UEFA will stop them.

“Leicester story was something special and we’d lose these stories. It’s not just about football, I remember the feeling between Indian and English people celebrating #LCFC together.”

Ranieri’s comments come on what has been another day of more twists and turns as the ESL descended into chaos on Tuesday night.

It emerged that Manchester City and Chelsea are set to withdraw from the competition, while Manchester United’s vice-chairman Ed Woodward resigned as the fallout continued over the European breakaway league.

Earlier today, 14 clubs in the Premier League held a meeting without Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Spurs as they made their stance clear on the proposals.

Villa boss Dean Smith was asked for his thoughts why the “big six” had decided to ditch the Champions League and set up a new Super League, and he said: “Maybe the big clubs look at the league table and don’t like Leicester City and West Ham in the top four.

“Who says in a few years it’s not a big 12 or big 14? I’ve been in the game for 34 years and I’ve never seen anything that’s brought the football family together like this.”

In a statement released by Leicester today, the Foxes condemned the proposals.

“Leicester City Football Club has joined 13 of its Premier League colleagues in opposition to a European Super League and to reaffirm our commitment to the long-standing and successful structure of domestic football.

“Competitive integrity and merit-based achievement are fundamental principles of the sport which, if compromised, will cause irreparable damage to the game, to the clubs whose legitimate aspirations underpin the entire football pyramid and to the communities those clubs serve.

“As custodians of our respective clubs, it falls to us to uphold football’s values, the solidarity and unity that protect the future of the sport and to ensure its commercial successes help strengthen its foundations throughout the pyramid and into the grassroots game.

“Football clubs exist for their supporters, whose passion and devotion are not simply a response to the game, but a fundamental and indispensable part of it. Their contribution is fed by their right to dream – a right we share a collective responsibility to protect.

“Leicester City is wholly supportive of the Premier League’s position in this matter and enormously encouraged by the way football’s supporters, Government and regulators have come together to challenge this threat to the game’s future.”