Nantes coach Claudio Ranieri says he'll always treasure his time with Leicester City.

Ranieri won the Premier League title with the Foxes in 2015-16, but was sacked earlier this year after a poor defence of that title.

“Leicester's fairytale lives on in my skin, in my heart," Ranieri told Corriere dello Sport.

“I wanted to participate in more events because we have a need for positive examples. I've had praise from Italians, English, Canadians, New Zealanders, Japanese… we touched the hearts of every corner of the world.

“Sometimes it happens that you win impossible challenges. I think of [Barack] Obama, President of the United States with his 'Yes We Can' and of Leicester winning the Premier League.

“What's left of that achievement? The tears of the English fans after my sacking. I was a hero even after being got rid of. Indeed, I was most loved in that negative moment.

“The important thing is not to think you're a superman, that you can win impossible matches. I couldn't go to Mars, even if I wanted to.

“Nantes? I need to brush up on my French.

“Football is my oxygen, and in the period where I was unemployed I was twitchy, impatient. I didn't enjoy this gold-plated holiday.

“I studied - football, of course - but I wasn't happy."