Riyad Mahrez

[Dan]

I dunno how he sees what's panned out and sees not signing for Arsenal as anything other than a lucky escape.

[Ric Flair]

8 hours ago, TJB-fox said:

Disagree. He’s an immensely talented player who deserves every inch of success he’s achieved - he’s come a bloody long way to get there. No luck involved, just a lot of hard work and ridiculous talent 

I'm not saying he doesn't deserve his success, I'm saying he's fortunate that we didn't agree to sell him to Arsenal and that Man City then signed him a year or two later. Otherwise he'd have 1 measly domestic cup to his name and no CL football since 2016 either.

[Ric Flair]

6 hours ago, murphy said:

 

Marseille 

 

Is that the same Marseille that refused to stump up £8m for Kante when they were his preferred option?     

 

About as perspicacious as rice pudding, that lot.

 

I seem to remember their president sneering that they do not fish in the same waters as Leicester City re Kante.

 

Just checked, I was wrong. It was Villarreal 😂

[Chrysalis]

I expect a few hate posts in here, loved him as our player and I will always see him as a legend, most technically gifted player I have seen play for us.

[Vardinio'sCat]

Remarkable footballer, I remember looking at his spindly legs and thinking he was too lightweight.

 

Worthington had a superb first touch as well, and that's the only comparison I can think of for us, even if they were quite different.

[Ric Flair]

Best first touch in the game, genuinely not seen anyone better.

[Sly]

8 minutes ago, Chrysalis said:

I expect a few hate posts in here, loved him as our player and I will always see him as a legend, most technically gifted player I have seen play for us.

I’m of the same opinion. As a footballer he was brilliant, still is actually. 
 

As a person, I’m not so sure. 
 

He wanted to leave and could have gone about it a better way. It’s hard to tell really, what’s agent talk, what was promised and what’s media spin. 
 

The personal stuff outside of football makes him quite dislikable. 
 

 

[Bert]

Everyone saying they don’t miss him... There’s not one fan that can actively say they wouldn’t have him back here unless they’re just bitter. 

[bmt]

I find it so funny how wound up some of you lot get about this. Who cares? 

 

We did him a favour by not letting him go to Arsenal, they're not the top level.

 

 

 

[Gordon the Great]

15 hours ago, Nalis said:

Also, I dont like slating ex players but bloody hell, Mahrez doesnt half moan does he? Constantly at it. He's at one of the best clubs in the world and plays as much as he could hope, what more does he want?

Petulant, ungrateful, childish, greedy to**er, and by his attitude I believe has removed himself from the adoration most City fans have for the immortals of 15/16, certainly I personally was glad to see him gone. Give me Marc Albrighton every time, half the player, TWICE the man.

[murphy]

30 minutes ago, Bert said:

Everyone saying they don’t miss him... There’s not one fan that can actively say they wouldn’t have him back here unless they’re just bitter. 

I don't miss him.  I don't want him back.

 

He's on a different planet altogether to Perez on that RW but who cares, he went on strike, he sulked, he bad mouthed us, he put in half-arsed shifts and he acted like a baby.  It was a relief when he finally left.  You have to have some self respect and draw a line regarding his behaviour, no matter how talented he is.  No one player is bigger than the club.

 

Also, with that £65m we bought Maddison, Ricardo and Evans with change to spare,  If you keep Mahrez then you can't have those.  I think we got the better deal.  

Edited 9 April 2021 by murphy

[The People's Hero]

I think the correct conclusion here to please all parties is that he should be forced to move to Arsenal now.

[eblair]

15 hours ago, dayday said:

'Frustrated' Riyad Mahrez reveals how Leicester City blocked Arsenal transfer before Man City move

The Algerian winger wanted to leave the Foxes after their Premier League title success in 2016 but was forced to wait two years.
 

Manchester City star Riyad Mahrez has revealed Leicester City blocked a move to Arsenal after winning the Premier League in 2016 leaving the winger "frustrated".

The Foxes lifted the 2015/16 title in phenomenal circumstances, with Mahrez netting 17 goals and registering 11 assists as he scooped the PFA Player of the Year award. 

Like Jamie Vardy, Mahrez has now revealed he had agreed a deal to move to Arsenal the following summer, with Arsene Wenger keen for the Algerian to move to the Emirates Stadium.

However, Leicester blocked the deal and Mahrez didn't get his big-money move until 2018 when he joined Manchester City, two years later, with Claudio Ranieri's men forced to fight relegation the following campaign in a miserable title defence.

 

Mahrez had amitted he was left very "frustrated" by the failed move, as it would have allowed him to arrive "at the highest level" two years earlier.

Mahrez told France Football: "After the title, if I'd left for a top team, it wouldn't have been the same story.

 

 

For me, it's clear that I lost two years at the highest level. I lost two years! Because instead of arriving at City at 27, I could have been there at 24, 25.

Leicester blocked me. They told me: 'You're not leaving, you're not leaving'.

 

 

My agent had spoken to [Arsene] Wenger who really wanted me. It was nearly all done with Arsenal in 2016. I was really frustrated. 

"It wasn't easy to go from being the best player in the Premier League to being a part of a team fighting against relegation.

 

It's not the same job. Everyone is waiting for you around the corner."

On joining Manchester City, he added: "He [Guardiola] was happy first. He said he was very happy to have me here.

"He said we're going to make big things together with the team."
 

I didn’t realise Arsenal was in for him, would that of been a good career move?, I doubt it looking at Arsenal now.

 

this is proper old isn't it; he has not said this again recently

 

he almost apologised for this interview, I really dont think he meant it to come across the way it did

[Sol thewall Bamba]

Fantastic player, one of our best ever but bloody hell he loves a moan doesn't he  

[HighPeakFox]

Why is this thread still open? Nothing new has been said, so all we're doing is picking at a scab. 

[AjcW]

1 hour ago, Bert said:

Everyone saying they don’t miss him... There’s not one fan that can actively say they wouldn’t have him back here unless they’re just bitter. 

Ridiculous isn't it  he's literally exactly what we are missing and have done since he left. We'd be comfortably second with a world class right winger. 

[dynamark]

he does seem to be right on it again with Man City at the moment,Superb assist on Wednesday 

[murphy]

30 minutes ago, AjcW said:

Ridiculous isn't it  he's literally exactly what we are missing and have done since he left. We'd be comfortably second with a world class right winger. 

The problem was not losing Mahrez, It wasn't possible to keep him and he made sure that he set his bridges ablaze.  We invested his fee well strengthening the team.  It was a net gain imo.  The problem is repeated failed attempts to find a decent RW.

 

 

[MrsJohnMurphy]

1 hour ago, Gordon the Great said:

Petulant, ungrateful, childish, greedy to**er, and by his attitude I believe has removed himself from the adoration most City fans have for the immortals of 15/16, certainly I personally was glad to see him gone. Give me Marc Albrighton every time, half the player, TWICE the man.

He's a Leicester legend and I look forward to having a pre match drink in the Riyad Mahrez Lounge in 10 years time

 

(although as he's a muslim it'll probably be just an orange juice)

[MrsJohnMurphy]

57 minutes ago, HighPeakFox said:

Why is this thread still open? Nothing new has been said, so all we're doing is picking at a scab. 

but once you start you can't leave it alone

[Arriba Los Zorros]

Not a fan of Riyad the person, he seemed to change character from humble to a complete arrogant entitled whiny bitch. Maybe he always had that streak in him. As a player we obviously know the talent he has and well done  to him for maximising it and winning lots of silverware.

[Grebfromgrebland]

1 hour ago, HighPeakFox said:

Why is this thread still open? Nothing new has been said, so all we're doing is picking at a scab. 

You cant deny that picking at scabs is oddlysatisfying.

[Mickyblueeyes]

Isn’t this an old interview? I’m sure I’ve read it before. 
 

If not, Riyad just needs to let it go. We’ve moved on, so should he. Was a pleasure watching him here.

[moore_94]

1 minute ago, Mickyblueeyes said:

Isn’t this an old interview? I’m sure I’ve read it before. 
 

If not, Riyad just needs to let it go. We’ve moved on, so should he. Was a pleasure watching him here.

From 2019

[TJB-fox]

4 hours ago, Ric Flair said:

I'm not saying he doesn't deserve his success, I'm saying he's fortunate that we didn't agree to sell him to Arsenal and that Man City then signed him a year or two later. Otherwise he'd have 1 measly domestic cup to his name and no CL football since 2016 either.

Yep or Roma, but still never know what would would’ve happened. He could’ve won player of the year again and ended up at Bayern etc winning the CL, he’s that good!