With every passing day of the transfer window, the rumours about players joining various clubs are heating up. With the majority of clubs preparing for their pre-season tours, the managers are pushing hard to have all their new signings before the start of the tour. One player who has caught the interest of Saudi clubs is Manchester City’s Riyad Mahrez.
Several Saudi clubs have been actively looking at Premier League stars to grace their clubs. They have been successful to lure the likes of Hakim Ziyech, N Golo Kante, Edouard Mendy and Ruben Neves. After winning the treble in the last season, will the Algerian be the latest one to make his journey towards the Gulf nation? Let us find out!
Mahrez ready for a new challenge in Arabia
In the 2015/16 season, the left-footed winger was a part of the historic Leicester City team which won the Premier League title against all the odds. His heroics in Leicester City colours caught the attention of Manchester City and they eventually signed him during the summer of 2018 for a reported fee of $76 million. After a stint of 5 years and winning multiple trophies, it seems as though the Algerian winger is ready for a new challenge in his career.
During his time at Manchester City, Riyad Mahrez has played 236 matches, scoring 78 goals and providing 59 assists. He has also won several trophies, including four Premier League titles and the Champions League trophy. After landing Edouard Mendy and Roberto Firmino, Al-Ahli have set their sights on the 32-year-old winger.
Several reports suggest that the treble-winner has agreed to a $26 million contract to move to the Saudi club. Despite the agreement on personal terms, the Algerian’s future lies in the hands of Manchester City’s hierarchy.
Was Riyad Mahrez born in Algeria?
The talented left-footed winger was born in the city of Sarcelles in France, but his father belongs from Algeria. During the early days of his career, Mahrez represented AAS Sarcelles as a youth player. In 2013, Mahrez announced his desire to play for the Algerian national team and represented them in the following 2014 World Cup. In 2016, after having a successful season, the Algerian winger was adjudged the African Footballer of the Year.
With 83 caps for his country, he has scored 30 goals and provided 37 assists. The 32-year-old winger was a part of the squad during their 2019 Africa Cup of Nations campaign, where the Algerians went on to lift the trophy by defeating Sadio Mane’s Senegal in the final.
Despite several reports suggesting that the treble-winner has agreed to personal terms with Al-Ahli, Pep Guardiola is keen to have the Algerian in the plans for the upcoming season. With the departure of big-name players from European football, is Saudi Arabia turning into a promised land? Let us know your thoughts!
