Leicester City winger Wanya Marcal is looking to go out on loan this summer to further his development and secure a long-term future at the King Power Stadium.
Last season, Marcal was on the periphery of Leicester’s senior squad, but his potential has not gone unnoticed. The club has shown their faith in him by offering a new contract extending until 2026. Despite this commitment, Marcal is eager to gain more game-time and experience elsewhere, with the ultimate aim of breaking into Leicester’s first team in the near future.
At 21 years old, Marcal appeared in eight matches across all competitions last season. However, with Leicester now back in the Premier League and having made several new signings, his opportunities might become more limited. The club has bolstered its squad with players like Abdul Fatawu, Stephy Mavididi, Kasey McAteer, and Bobby De Cordova-Reid, all competing for spots on the wings.
In a recent episode of the Ballers Mindset podcast, Marcal shared his aspirations: “Ideally, I’ll try to get a loan and get my name out there as much as possible. I know I can play men’s football, and that’s what I need to do. I’m 21 now, and I need as much game-time as possible to make a name for myself. Then I can come back to Leicester and stay in the team in the season after or the season after that.”
Marcal’s potential was on display early last season when he scored in a 2-1 victory over Cardiff City, marking his first home league start. However, his momentum was halted as he was not included in the squad for the following match against Rotherham.
Reflecting on his omission from the squad, Marcal noted, “It definitely brought me back down to earth. I didn’t really understand it. He never really told me why. Maybe I became complacent throughout that training week or something like that. I just took it on the chin and carried on working.”
Leicester manager Enzo Maresca explained his approach to handling young players at the time, emphasizing the importance of earning their place: “I think young players need to earn things every day in training sessions and work hard. With young players, you need to give them not everything soon. You need to give them small things day by day. It was just a technical decision.”
Marcal’s determination to succeed is clear, and a loan move could provide the platform he needs to enhance his skills and prove his worth. By gaining regular playing time and showcasing his abilities, he hopes to return to Leicester City as a stronger and more experienced player, ready to make a significant impact on the first team.
