Adrien Silva’s father criticises Claude Puel and Leicester City

Portuguese European Cup winner Adrien Silva, Leicester City’s forgotten man, naturally desires a move away from the East Midlands this January. Now his father has criticised the club and Claude Puel:

Why wouldn’t Adrien Silva want a move away from Leicester City?! He’s probably gonna go down as the most ill-advised or disastrous transfer buy in the club’s history. Through absolutely no fault of his own.

We at Foxes of Leicester cannot help but think the scenario may have been so much different, for the better. Surely following embracing adversity at the beginning – choosing the squad No.14 – the Portuguese is now weary of the phrase ’14 seconds’. Just imagine for a moment that paperwork delivered in a timely fashion, then Silva slotted straight into the team. Yet the creative midfielder has seen just 323 minutes of first-team play this campaign.

Even if he took until this season to assimilate effectively in the English top-flight, he could have made a really great impression on the Premier League. James Maddison’s arrival was the final nail in the coffin of the 29-year-old’s Leicester career so to speak; plying trade superbly in a similar midfield-playmaker position.

However, this week the former Sporting Lisbon player’s father and agent Manuel Silva condemned the treatment of his son by his current club and manager Claude Puel:

"“We have a coach who is picking on the player and who is cutting his legs, does not summon him to the games and at this stage when the market is open he could be loaned with the option to buy and he doesn’t let him leave.“The coach now says he counts on him, but lets him go and train with the under-23s several times. Adrien respects the club and the orders that are given, but it’s time to clarify this situation.“If they do not bet on him so loan him out, because he has proposals from some European clubs, among them French, which seems to be annoying Claude Puel. It is unfortunate what is happening, we are talking about a European champion and that if you do not play at your club you shouldn’t also be able to represent Portugal.“Adrien has not been summoned for several matches. It’s a decision of the coach that we respect. Adrien respects the club and the coach’s choices.“We have proposals for a loan for the next six months in France, Spain and Italy. Adrien, he just wants playing time to find his place in the national selection of Portugal.”(Via: Sports Witness)"

Strong sentiment indeed from a father there. Understandable as it is to want his son content in his profession, the fact that Silva senior represents the younger is technically a conflict of interest.

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It is unlikely Puel bullied or targeted Adrien negatively. Often problems arise due to favouritism in teams – but that is literally a manager’s job: rate, select and disregard with professionalism.

A decision to let the player leave is obviously best for all parties involved; despite the King Power club supposedly playing hardball with negotiations, a compromise is preferable to reduce wages of the Foxes if nothing else. Leicester Mercury recently reported Silva was ‘offered’ to Paris Saint-Germain and Puel’s longtime associates AS Monaco.