Claudio Ranieri turned down an approach to return to coach Leicester after the sacking of his former assistant Craig Shakespeare.

The Italian was fired in February after winning the Premier League and is now working for Ligue 1 side Nantes.

And in an interview in today's Corriere delo Sport, the Italian sports daily reports the 66-year-old said “no thanks” when his camp were offered a return to the King Power Stadium earlier this month.

The Foxes have since appointed former Southampton boss Claude Puel.

Ranieri has previously coached six of the teams in this season's Champions League – Roma, Chelsea, Atletico Madrid, Napoli, Juventus and Monaca.

Ranieri is now Nice boss (
Image:
REUTERS)
Ranieri with Craig Shakespeare (
Image:
Plumb Images)


“The significance is that I have had a lot of jobs,” he said.

Asked about this season's Premier League title, the 66-year-old said: “I think the title will go to Manchester. City and United will go head to head till the title is decided.

"But there is also Tottenham while I don't think Conte at Chelsea has any intention to give in.”

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