CLAUDIO RANIERI has challenged Nantes to give him the sack after being accused of lacking professionalism.
The former Leicester boss, who won the Premier League title two years ago, has won just two Ligue 1 matches in 2018 and his relationship with club president Waldemar Kita is turning sour.
After Saturday’s 2-0 loss to Lyon, Ranieri, who took over last summer, said: “It’s normal for him to criticise – all the presidents criticise when you lose.
“So, if he’s not happy there’s only thing left for him to do. . . . “
Ranieri angered the club the previous week when he did not turn up to the club’s 75th anniversary party, which was held away from the stadium, following the 1-1 home draw with Rennes.
Bizarrely, he claimed: “I was on my way there but my chauffeur went the wrong way.
“We arrived on the other side and there were so many cars around I told my chauffeur to take me to the airport so I could go to London because of some flooding in my apartment.
“I told my president that I was stuck. He told me there was no problem. I asked his permission.”
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But Ranieri further angered Kita by joining up with Italian members of his staff to watch Manchester United against Spurs and Arsenal at home to West Ham.
Kita said: “Maybe he had his obligations, what do you expect me to say? For me, it’s unprofessional to act in this way.
“It’s a necessity to come to such a reception.
“I’m not going to grab him by the arm to force him to come if he’s got something else planned.
“He told me ‘I have to go’ and I told him ‘But I told you that you had to come.”
They first started clashing after the January transfer window when Ranieri was disappointed not to get better players.
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