Report: The Leicester City player targeted by Ruud van Nistelrooy in a ‘heated’ rant
Leicester City find themselves in a precarious situation.
Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Leicester City side sit two points from safety, and fans have begun to turn on the former Manchester United star.
Supporters booed his decision to substitute Bilal El Khannouss during the weekend’s match, and there has been growing frustration over the lack of game time for Facundo Buonanotte.
The Argentine international was a standout player under Steve Cooper and a rare bright spark during Leicester’s earlier struggles.
However, since van Nistelrooy’s appointment, Buonanotte has found himself relegated to the bench.
Reports have now emerged of a bust-up between van Nistelrooy and Buonanotte during the weekend.
Van Nistelrooy’s Heated Rant Targets Buonanotte
According to the Daily Mail, van Nistelrooy had a “heated exchange” with his players following Leicester’s 2-0 defeat to Fulham on Saturday.
Buonanotte was reportedly singled out during the confrontation, which left some players surprised.
The Brighton loanee had been subbed on in the 71st minute but struggled to make an impact as Leicester had already lost control of the midfield.
The tensions come after an earlier dressing room dispute following their loss to Crystal Palace, which led senior players to call a squad meeting.
Van Nistelrooy’s Leadership Challenge
Van Nistelrooy now faces the same issue that led to Steve Cooper’s dismissal—a disconnect between the players and the manager.
The Leicester boss must resolve the growing friction in the dressing room before it spirals further.
The clearest way to rebuild trust and maintain support is through winning games. Success fosters unity and eases tension, but Leicester’s upcoming fixtures provide little room for error.
Leicester’s Upcoming Fixtures
Sunday, 26 January: Leicester vs. Tottenham (15:00)
Saturday, 1 February: Leicester vs. Everton (16:00)
Saturday, 15 February: Leicester vs. Arsenal (13:30)
Friday, 21 February: Leicester vs. Brentford (21:00)
Thursday, 27 February: Leicester vs. West Ham (21:00)
Van Nistelrooy must find a way to turn results around quickly if he hopes to steer Leicester away from the relegation zone and restore harmony within his squad.
