Leicester City defender Wesley Fofana enjoyed a magnificent debut season at the King Power.
Signed in the summer of 2020 for £30million from Saint Etienne as a teenager, the young centre-back shone during his first campaign in English football.
That he wasn’t included in the PFA Young Player of the Year running was very much a surprise, such had been his development during the season.
Nowhere was his excellence shown more than in the FA Cup Final, the France Under-21 international producing a standout defensive display as the Foxes claimed a first-ever FA Cup.
Having earned rave reviews throughout, Leicester’s deal has already been hailed, widely, as a coup.
Fofana is currently on holiday in Dubai enjoying his summer break, having been forced to miss the European Under-21 Championships with a shoulder problem.
Now, while away, a picture of Fofana wearing an Arsenal shirt has emerged on social media – unsurprisingly prompting plenty of responses from Gunners’ supporters.
Fofana has now swiftly sought to explain the situation, in a bid to allay any fears Leicester fans may have.
“OK mates. I have been tricked by some former friends wearing an Arsenal jersey,” he wrote on Twitter.
“I played a football game (as coach I cannot run) with some friends and at the end we exchanged jerseys.
“I have been photographed in, what I thought, was my private sphere. I had obviously no thinking that what was a friendly game and joke will end up in social networks.
“I feel sorry for our fans and angry against the guys that have seized the opportunity to make this bad buzz.
“Sorry for all Arsenal friends, I have strictly no problem with the red but only the blue is in my heart.”
Alongside the picture of the message, Fofana wrote: “I’m not a good coach we lost 20 to 5.”
Since completing his switch from Ligue 1, Fofana has made 38 appearances in all competitions for Leicester – being named the club’s Young Player of the Season.
He operated in both a back three and a back four during the campaign, showcasing his versatility by occasionally stepping in at right-back also for Brendan Rodgers’ side.
With a deal until 2025, Leicester have no intention of parting with one of their prized assets ahead of 2021-22, as they seek another deep Europa League run, and another assault on the top four – having missed out on the final day in each of the last two years.
