The Montpellier winger is on course to join City this summer and would likely operate in the left-wing role that Barnes made his own over the past few seasons at the club
Potential new Leicester City signing Stephy Mavididi has reacted to Harvey Barnes’ departure from the club after the England winger joined Newcastle in a £38m deal.
Mavididi, who looks set to join City in a move from Ligue 1 side Montpellier, posted a crying face emoji in reply to Barnes’ social media post announcing the “toughest decision of my life” in leaving his boyhood club.
It could be interpreted as disappointment on Mavididi’s part that he won’t get to link up with Barnes again at City. The pair have previously played together for England’s Under-20s. Back then, Mavididi operated as a striker, but in the past few years with Montpellier, he has mostly played on the left wing and so would be filling the vacancy left by Barnes if he does join City.
Plenty of other team-mates past and present reacted to Barnes’ announcement. Hamza Choudhury, one of Barnes’ best friends and a team-mate through the age groups at City, said: “Special player and even more of a special guy. Big things to come.”
Harry Winks, Kelechi Iheanacho, Jakub Stolarczyk and former midfielder Andy King were among those to wish Barnes good luck, while title-winning right-back Danny Simpson, who previously played at Newcastle, said: “You’ll love it mate, good luck.”
Barnes becomes City’s 11th departure of the summer, with eight players leaving at the ends of their contracts, and with James Maddison and George Hirst sold. So far, City have signed four players, with Winks, Conor Coady, Callum Doyle, and Mads Hermansen joining the club.