LEICESTER skipper Wes Morgan insists Jamie Vardy was spot on to snub Arsenal and stay at the King Power Stadium.
England ace Vardy, 29, looked to be heading to N5 earlier this summer when Arsene Wenger’s Gunners met the £20million buy-out clause in his contract.
But rather than make the switch to one of the world’s most prestigious and glamorous clubs, the lethal striker stunned the game by pledging his future to Claudio Ranieri’s Midlands outfit.
One man not shocked at that decision, however, was the Foxes’ inspirational leader Morgan. Quite the opposite, in fact.
Hailing an extremely rare show of loyalty in football’s modern age, the Jamaica international claimed Vardy did not quit Leicester for Arsenal because: He already plays for the champions of England.
He is guaranteed Champions League football next season.
He has nothing to prove among the elite.
Morgan, 32, who himself agreed a three-year contract extension last Tuesday, said: “After his fantastic season it was to be expected other teams would be interested in poaching Jamie.
"But he has committed himself to Leicester now and that’s great for the players, the fans and the club.
"Vards did it on the big stage last year. No doubt he can do that again next season – with us – because now he’s even more confident in his ability.
"He knows what he’s capable of producing. Even on the international stage, with England, he comes on and is a threat straight away.
"And he’s proved himself with Leicester. We’ve shown how good we are. We’ve won the league. We are the defending champions. There’s no reason for him to leave us. He’s made the right choice.”
While Wenger’s north Londoners are forced to look elsewhere for a natural, world-class finisher, Vardy and his team-mates are gearing up for their title defence – and the unprecedented challenge of competing against Europe’s elite.
Unquestionably, once they begin their Champions League campaign, the spotlight will fall on ex-Fleetwood Town ace Vardy, who cost the Foxes just £1m four years ago.
He was pivotal in Leicester defying odds of 5,000-1 to conquer the English top tier for the first time in their history.
The hotshot scored 24 league goals, including a record-breaking Premier League run of scoring in 11 straight games midway through the season.
But for a two-match suspension near the end of the campaign, he may well have finished up as the Premier League’s leading scorer – rather than one behind England and Spurs rival Harry Kane.
And Morgan predicts Vardy will have no trouble terrorising the finest rearguards in Europe – just as he does those on home shores.
"I’m sure teams will do their research and will know all about Jamie,” said the defender.
"They’ll know about his threat and they’ll try to nullify it. But plenty of defenders have tried to do that before – and so far they’ve failed.
"I’m looking forward to seeing what he’ll do against some of the world’s very best defenders.
MATES: Vardy and Morgan were crucial to Leicester's title win
"Vards has always popped up with goals and I feel he will do damage in the Champions League.
"I’ve no doubt he’ll make that next transition.”
With Frenchman N’Golo Kante now at Chelsea, Vardy and Algeria playmaker Riyad Mahrez are the most recognisable faces in Ranieri’s squad.
Not that all the public adulation is confined to the deadly duo, as Morgan revealed that well-wishers mobbed him every step of the way on his summer holidays.
He said: “It was nice to get a break – even if I didn’t quite anticipate the amount of attention I’d receive.
"Everywhere I went in Greece, people were coming up to congratulate me.
"It was the same in Thailand. I suppose it’s to be expected after last season but I’m not sure that I’ll get used to it!"
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