Andrea Bocelli to serenade Leicester fans at title party

Fellow Italian Claudio Ranieri has helped organise a performance with Opera star

Fans cheer the Leicester City team bus as players and staff leave after having lunch the day after winning the English Premier League title. Photograph: Getty Images
Fans cheer the Leicester City team bus as players and staff leave after having lunch the day after winning the English Premier League title. Photograph: Getty Images

Opera star Andrea Bocelli will serenade Leicester fans before their title party against Everton on Saturday.

The 57-year-old rang boss Claudio Ranieri two months ago to offer his support in their race for the Barclays Premier League and Ranieri has helped organise a performance at the weekend.

The Foxes will receive the trophy following the match after they clinched the title on Monday, having been 5,000-1 shots to win it at the start of the season.

Bocelli has sold more than 80 million records including his biggest hit ‘Time to Say Goodbye’.

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Ranieri said: “He will sing here. He called me, one month and half ago, two months ago. He was so happy (about) what we were doing in Leicester. He said: ‘I would like to come and sing something’. I said: ‘Great, why not?’

“I gave all the information to the club and they made all the arrangements. It is great for all the community. He’s not a friend, I met him a long time ago, I had been to his concert at Wembley. I don’t know if he remembers. Now, yes maybe (he remembers)!”

Leicester won the title after Tottenham drew 2-2 with Chelsea to leave them seven points clear with two games left, securing Ranieri with his first ever top flight title.

“Of course I think it’s my karma because I work so hard to achieve things,” said the Italian, who toasted the Foxes’ success with journalists with a glass of champagne on Thursday.

“I am very happy and I want to say thank you to all my players, the chairman, the staff and the fans. They were amazing.”

Ranieri is waiting to discover what punishment Robert Huth will face after being charged by the Football Association with violent conduct following an alleged hair-pulling incident involving Marouane Fellaini, who was also charged after appearing to lash out in retaliation during last week's 1-1 draw with Manchester United.

Ranieri added: “I think (Robert did) foul him, but also Fellaini has long hair.... I think the reaction is worse than the provocation. If you see everybody who (pulls) the shirt, you have to send off all the players and only the managers would be left.”

Jamie Vardy is available after his two-match ban but Danny Drinkwater is suspended after being sent off at Old Trafford while Matty James could feature after being out for a year with a knee injury.