Harry Winks Dropped from Leicester Squad After Heated Clash with Ruud van Nistelrooy

Harry Winks was dropped from the Leicester City squad following a reported heated disagreement with manager Ruud van Nistelrooy regarding his commuting routine.

Winks, who lives in Hertfordshire, undertakes a 100-mile daily round trip to the club’s training base in Seagrave, North Leicestershire. Van Nistelrooy had allegedly asked the midfielder to stay overnight at the training ground once a week to improve his preparation, especially before matches. However, Winks reportedly refused the request, citing personal reasons, including the recent birth of his daughter in March.

As a result of this disagreement, Winks has not featured for Leicester since February. Former England manager Sam Allardyce criticised Winks' stance, calling it “extremely unprofessional” unless the player had a chauffeur to drive him. Allardyce further remarked that such logistical matters should be clearly stated in a player’s contract.

Since joining Leicester City in 2023, Winks has made 73 appearances and played a vital role in their 2024 Championship-winning campaign. His absence comes at a difficult time, with the club currently placed 19th in the Premier League standings. The situation also sheds light on growing unrest within the team, as van Nistelrooy has faced scrutiny over his strict managerial approach. Other players, such as Jannik Vestergaard—who also commutes long distances—have reportedly clashed with the manager on disciplinary grounds.