Jamie Vardy has spoken openly about a difficult year in Italy, explaining why the move to Cremonese did not work and confirming a return to England as a free agent after the 2025-26 Serie A season.

The former Leicester City striker shared that training demands in Italy left players drained before matches, describing intense physical work and a style that did not suit personal strengths, during an episode of the newly launched “Jamie Vardy’s Having a Party” podcast.

Detailing on-field differences between England and Serie A, Vardy said: “Compared to here (England), its a lot slower, more defensive. Training was just constant: Run, run, run, run. You go into a game and you’re f*****. Like literally, you have nothing else left to give. It’s not just for me, it’s every team.”

Vardy joined Cremonese after a 13-year stay at Leicester City’s King Power Stadium, where the forward became associated with the 2015-16 Premier League title win. Across 29 appearances for Cremonese, Vardy scored seven goals and provided three assists, yet the club still dropped to Serie B at the end of the campaign.

The 39-year-old highlighted frustration with decision-making structures at Cremonese and the strong say held by the sporting director in team matters. Vardy explained tactical preparation and training schedules sometimes clashed with views within the dressing room, especially before key fixtures in the relegation battle.

Vardy recalled one specific period, saying: “So how it works is that the sporting director has a say in everything. Everything. Its mental. So in my head, Im like ‘Well, just keep it now, do exactly the same’. Then we were playing Pisa the week after. The sporting director says ‘it’sa massive game, massive game’.I’m like ‘well, they’re all massive, no game’s any different’. ‘No, no, but this one’s big’. They trained us every single day, played Pisa, and lost.”

There were positive moments across the season, including decisive goals in crucial fixtures for Cremonese in Serie A.

Off the pitch, Vardy described how the move to Italy placed strain on family life, with relocation issues adding to challenges. The former England international said: “We’d already moved the kids back, it was a struggle, really was.” After opting against a one-year extension at Cremonese, Vardy has returned home and is weighing up the next step.

Vardy’s account of a demanding season with Cremonese outlines physical, tactical and personal difficulties, from heavy training loads and relegation to family disruption, leaving the experienced forward back in England, out of contract and reflecting on a tough spell in Serie A.