‘The Right Time’ for Jamie Vardy?

Cremonese Boss Addresses Ex-Leicester Striker’s Long Wait for First Serie A Start Ahead of Udinese Clash

It’s a crisp autumn evening in northern Italy, and in Cremona’s quiet streets, there’s a buzz that hasn’t been felt in years. The Stadio Giovanni Zini is preparing to host Udinese on Monday night, but the talk of the town isn’t about the opponents—it’s about one man. Jamie Vardy, the 38-year-old Premier League legend whose story of rising from non-league obscurity to English champion still feels like a footballing fairytale, could finally be set for his first Serie A start.

For weeks, Cremonese fans have been waiting for this moment, craning their necks toward the substitutes’ bench every matchday, wondering when they’d finally see the famous No.9 lead the line. Now, head coach Davide Nicola has hinted that the time has come. “I could consider him from the start; perhaps it’s also the right time to give him this opportunity,” Nicola revealed in his pre-match press conference.

After two cameo appearances totaling just 63 minutes, the former Leicester City striker might at last hear his name called when the teams are announced on Monday. For Vardy, whose arrival in Italy turned heads across the football world, it’s a chance to remind everyone that age is just a number—and that the hunger to score goals never fades.

Nicola Suggests Vardy Could Play Up to 90 Minutes

Davide Nicola has never been one for empty praise. A passionate, detail-driven coach known for his emotional touchline presence, he’s been measured but optimistic in his assessment of Vardy’s readiness. “I think he will play between 50 and 90 minutes,” Nicola said with a grin, leaving journalists eager for more. It wasn’t quite confirmation, but it was as close as it gets in football’s world of guarded pre-match language.

That hint alone was enough to send Cremonese supporters into a frenzy. The thought of Vardy—a man whose name became synonymous with relentless pressing and instinctive finishing—finally starting in Serie A carries an undeniable romance. His trademark pace may have dimmed slightly with time, but his attitude and sense of timing remain razor-sharp.

Nicola’s admiration was clear as he described what the Englishman brings to his squad. “He’s undoubtedly shown a certain mentality by choosing Cremonese,” said the coach. “It was just a matter of starting to work regularly with his teammates.”

Vardy’s short appearances so far, especially the lively cameo against Inter in Milan, have offered glimpses of what he can still do. “In Milan, he showed great determination at various times,” Nicola said. That phrase—great determination—might just define Vardy’s entire career.

Vardy’s “Great Determination” Lauded Despite Bench Role

Hellas Verona FC v US Cremonese – Serie A

Few could have imagined Jamie Vardy swapping the English Midlands for Lombardy at this stage of his career. Yet the move feels strangely fitting. For a man who built his reputation on defying the odds, joining a newly promoted Serie A club at 38 is another chapter written in the same fearless spirit.

Since his arrival, Vardy has been the model professional. Teammates describe him as humble, disciplined, and eager to adapt. While others might have viewed a move abroad as a late-career holiday, Vardy came to compete. Nicola himself highlighted the striker’s influence off the pitch as much as on it.

“He’s training with intensity and pushing others to raise their level,” Nicola shared. “You can see that he’s been at the highest level for years—he sets standards.”

Behind the scenes, Cremonese staff have reportedly been impressed by Vardy’s willingness to learn Italian football’s tactical nuances. Serie A, after all, is a league where space is scarce, and strikers must outthink as much as outpace defenders. For someone like Vardy—once the symbol of high-energy chaos in Leicester’s counter-attacking glory days—this represents both a challenge and a transformation.

Cremonese Defying Expectations on Serie A Return

Cremonese’s story this season has been one of quiet resilience and surprising maturity. Promoted in the summer and tipped by pundits as immediate relegation candidates, Nicola’s men have defied those expectations with poise. After six games, they’ve lost just once—an impressive return that has lifted them to 10th in the table.

It all began with a statement win at San Siro, where they stunned AC Milan 1–0, followed by a thrilling 3–2 victory against Sassuolo. Three draws—against Verona, Parma, and Como—helped them maintain momentum before Inter handed them their first loss of the campaign. Still, with nine points from six matches, Cremonese are comfortably mid-table, and a win over Udinese could see them climb as high as eighth.

The team’s success has been built on structure, unity, and hard work—traits that align perfectly with Vardy’s footballing DNA. Nicola’s system relies heavily on defensive organisation and fast transitions, a style reminiscent of Leicester’s 2015–16 Premier League-winning setup. It’s little wonder that many fans see Vardy as the missing puzzle piece, someone who can turn tight games into victories.

Nicola’s Man-Management: Timing Is Everything

For all the excitement surrounding Vardy’s potential start, Nicola has handled the situation with calculated patience. The Italian coach knows that footballers in their late thirties must be managed carefully. It’s not about sentiment—it’s about sustainability.

By easing Vardy in gradually, Nicola has ensured the veteran adapts to the tempo, the tactics, and the demands of a new league. The Italian heat, the travel, and the tight defensive systems are all adjustments even the fittest players must respect. Now, six weeks into the campaign, the timing finally feels right.

“From him, as from the others, I expect a desire to blindly believe in what he’s doing,” Nicola said, setting the tone ahead of Udinese’s visit. “The awareness of representing a team with a very clear objective in this division.”

That objective, of course, is survival—but don’t tell that to Cremonese’s supporters, who are beginning to dream bigger.

What Next for Vardy?

FC Internazionale v US Cremonese – Serie A

If Monday truly is “the right time” for Vardy to start, the eyes of both Italy and England will be on Cremona. The match itself carries more than just three points; it’s an opportunity for a footballing icon to remind the world of what made him special.

His opponents, Udinese, sit three places below Cremonese with eight points. They’ve been inconsistent, and their defense has looked vulnerable in recent weeks—precisely the kind of setup that a clinical finisher like Vardy could exploit.

Should Vardy mark his first start with a goal, it would not only justify Nicola’s patience but also serve as a statement: that the hunger which fueled his rise from Fleetwood Town to Premier League glory still burns.

After Udinese, Cremonese face Atalanta at home before trips to Genoa and Juventus—a brutal stretch that will test their depth and determination. For Vardy, it’s also a chance to build rhythm and chemistry with his new teammates, particularly the energetic wingers and creative midfielders who’ve thrived under Nicola’s direct, fast-tempo approach.

A Career Still Writing Its Final Chapter

Jamie Vardy has made a career of proving people wrong. When he was 27, critics said he’d peaked too late. When he was 30, they said his pace would fade. When he was 35, they expected him to retire quietly from Leicester. Instead, he stayed, scored, and fought. Now, at 38, as he prepares for his first Serie A start, he’s proving once again that football has no script.

The move to Cremonese may not have the glamour of the Premier League, but for Vardy, it represents something equally valuable—a new challenge, a new culture, and perhaps one final chance to write another improbable chapter in his career.

As the fans file into the Giovanni Zini on Monday night, scarves raised and voices echoing across the stands, there’s a sense that something special might be about to happen. Maybe it really is the right time for Jamie Vardy.