Premier League: Leicester City striker Leonardo Ulloa backs down from strike threat

Leicester’s wantaway striker Leonardo Ulloa has vowed to remain professional after his dreams of a move away from the club were crushed.

The Argentinian striker vowed never to play for Claudio Ranieri again in January, after criticising the Italian boss for ‘betraying’ him.

But after January passed without his move away from the club, the former Brighton and Hove Albion striker has said he will remain professional and not go on strike.

He had tweeted on Monday: “I feel betrayed by Ranieri and let down by the club. I will not play again for them.”

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The outburst followed two bids from Sunderland over the weekend, £3m and £7.5m, which were turned down by the reigning Premier League champions.

And despite his super-sub role in helping Leicester to a historic Premier League title last season, Ulloa has been left frustrated with his lack of game-time this time around, with Ranieri also signing Islam Slimani.

He told Sky Sports, in an unauthorised interview: “The manager’s been telling me for the last two weeks that if an offer of around £4m to £5m was arriving to the club, he would help me to leave.

“My understanding at this moment is that these offers are around those figures, or even bigger, [and] are not being considered, so after what Ranieri has been telling me for weeks, today he tells me that he wants me to stay.

“I can’t understand the situation or why they don’t let me continue playing my football somewhere else. If I stay at the club it’s going to affect seriously my career and my future. They know I’m not going to be used.

“The best thing for both parties is that they sell me to another club and I can continue playing my football somewhere else.”

According to reports, Ulloa’s comments may yet see him receive disciplinary action after angering the club.