Leicester City news: Leonardo Ulloa agent slams Claudio Ranieri after Foxes boss refuses transfer request
Argentinian striker Ulloa has handed in an official transfer request but has been told by boss that he's going nowhere
CLAUDIO RANIERI has been branded a "liar" in an astonishing attack by Leonardo Ulloa's agent.
Horacio Rossi is furious after the Leicester boss and Fifa Coach of the Year insisted that his Argentine striker, 30, will be staying at the club - despite the player handing in an official transfer request.
And Ulloa's representative contacted SunSport to slam the Italian and Foxes director of football Jon Rudkin.
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Rossi said: "As the agent of Ulloa, I'm tired of the lies of Claudio Ranieri and Jon Rudkin.
"On Leicester's pre-season tour of the United States, Ranieri promised Ulloa he would not buy another attacker.
"But he bought Islam Slimani and then promised Ulloa that he could leave Leicester and did not comply.
"And Ranieri promised Ulloa that he would get a contract renewal and he did not fulfill it - so Ulloa has decided to officially request a transfer.
"Yet now Ranieri, in a confused message to the press, says he believes Ulloa will remain in Leicester when it is not true."
"Ranieri is behaving like a selfish, egocentric egotist, who does not care about the suffering of a man who fought for him and helped win the Premier League title.
"The manager is destroying Ulloa's career in forcing him to stay in Leicester and this season has only started him in one Premier League match.
"The manager wants to force him to stay to play two games a year - when he has Jamie Vardy, Slimani and Shinji Okazaki. We will now allow it."
Ulloa's 90 minutes against Middlesbrough on January 2 were his first for six months but he got injured in the next game he started against Everton in the FA Cup.
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And Rossi's business partner - and also another member of Ulloa's camp - Marcelino Elena last night told SunSport: "You have on one side a player who has handed in an official transfer request and on the other a club that clearly doesn't want the player because he does not play.
"If you have something at home that you are going to chuck in the bin, you may as well get some money for it. It is baffling.
"Ranieri has told Leonardo that if he isn't happy with the situation at the club, he is more than happy to let him go.
"Yet now he is telling people publicly that he wants to keep the player yet privately he is telling Leonardo he will help him leave. It makes totally no sense - it's contradicting.
"And now we're tired of these lies and games.
"I think this is not fair and shows a lack of respect for a player that has been a big part of winning the title for you and played such a vital role for the club for the last three years.
"By keeping him, they are seriously damaging Leonardo's career and that is not acceptable."
Elena added that Leicester in the summer were hawking Ulloa to clubs on loan until January.
And he said: "Leicester were offering him out on loan like he is a young player trying to make his way in football rather than a 30-year-old who has been a big part of the club's success and is loved by the fans.
"It was completely disrespectful and hurt Leonardo a lot. That is just one of a few episodes that has been taking place behind the scenes."
Ulloa has 18 months left on his contract and Leicester have just rejected a second bid from La Liga club Alaves.
And Elena added: "There are a number of clubs interested but Leicester are so strong in their desire to block his path out that they are feeling frustrated.
"They know the player is getable and wants to leave - but then see the club refusing to entertain offers."