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Ranieri: 'We are crying because we lost Kante'

Plumb Images / Leicester City FC / Getty

Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri compared the loss of N'Golo Kante to Esteban Cambiasso's departure last summer, describing his side as being in a state of mourning.

After playing an instrumental role in helping Leicester win its first ever league title, the French midfielder called time on his career with the Foxes and was sold to Chelsea for a fee believed to be worth £32 million.

Related: Chelsea signs Kante from reigning champion Leicester for reported £32M

The sale occurred after Leicester failed to convince Kante to stay when the club offered the 25-year-old a new four-year contract before his departure to play at Euro 2016 in France.

Despite his influence last season, Ranieri remains hopeful the club will rebound from Kante's loss in a similar fashion to the way Leicester was able to overcome Cambiasso's decision to leave last summer before shocking the football world and winning the Premier League.

"Last season we lost Esteban Cambiasso and everybody was crying," Ranieri told reporters.

"Now we are crying because we lost Kante. Don't worry. Football in Leicester will keep going."

Similar to the relief Kante provided when Cambiasso left, the negative impact of his departure could be quickly forgotten if new signing Nampalys Mendy is able to live up to his high price tag after Leicester signed the 24-year-old from Nice in a deal that reportedly cost the defending champions €16 million.

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