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Claudio Ranieri returns to Leicester City for final goodbyes

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Claudio Ranieri speaks to Sky Sports News HQ before leaving the Leicester training ground for one final time

Claudio Ranieri returned to Leicester City's training ground on Saturday to say final goodbyes to his former players and staff.

Leicester sacked Ranieri on Thursday, nine months after he lifted the Premier League trophy at the King Power Stadium and with the Foxes now just a single point outside of the relegation places.

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The squad's senior players told the club's owners they were "unhappy" with Ranieri ahead of his dismissal, according to Sky sources, but he spent just under 45 minutes at Leicester's training ground on Saturday for a final talk with his ex-staff.

Schmeichel pays Ranieri tribute
Schmeichel pays Ranieri tribute

Kasper Schmeichel was the first Leicester player to pay their respects to Claudio Ranieri

Leicester's owners arrived by helicopter shortly after Ranieri's departure from the training ground ahead of their own talks with the players and caretaker manager Craig Shakespeare.

"I feel good now, because of what we achieved at Leicester," Ranieri told Sky Sports News HQ reporter Rob Dorsett as he exited the ground. "I hope it happens again but it will be very difficult."

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Watch Leicester's owners arrive at the club's training ground, just minutes after Ranieri had left the ground

Asked if it had been an emotional goodbye to his former players, Ranieri replied: "No it was normal."

Ranieri has told those closest to him he felt he still had the respect of the vast majority of the dressing room and only had potential issues with 'a couple' of players, Sky Sports News HQ understands.

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The Italian had admitted his "dream had died" when he was sacked by Leicester, but thanked those associated with the club for what he called "the greatest story in football".

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Ranieri arrived at the Leicester training ground for the final time to say goodbye to the club's players and staff

Leicester will play for the first time since Ranieri's departure when they face Liverpool on Monday Night Football at the King Power Stadium.

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