Standout player in Leicester City’s Premier League title triumph – ‘I was ready to sign for Arsenal but Leicester blocked the transfer but believes he lost two years after being denied a move to Arsenal

Riyad Mahrez has previously claimed that Leicester City’s decision to block a potential move to Arsenal has cost him two years of competing at football’s highest level.    The former Manchester City star has recalled how the trajectory of his career could have been different had he made the switch following Leicester’s fairytale Premier League triumph in 2015/16.

   His impressive tally of 17 goals and a further 10 assists that season earned him the PFA Players’ Player of the Year and PFA Supporters’ Player of the Year awards.    Despite wanting a new challenge after their 2017 Champions League quarter-final exit, unlike team-mate N’Golo Kante, who secured a move to Chelsea, Mahrez has been kept at the top of the club.

   The winger believes he delayed his arrival at football’s top until he joined Manchester City at the age of 27.   Looking back in 2019 in an interview with France Football, Mahrez said: “If I had been dropping title after title for a top team, it wouldn’t have been the same story.

   “It’s clear to me that I lost two years at the highest level. I lost two years! Because instead of coming to City at 27, I could have been there at 24, 25. Leicester blocked me. They told me: “You  “don’t go don’t go” My agent spoke to [Arsene] Wenger who really wanted me.   In 2016, almost everything was done with Arsenal.  I was really disappointed.

   Mahrez – who now plays for Al-Ahli – stayed at Leicester for another year, a period which saw the club fight against relegation before they managed to secure seven wins from their last 13 league games.    “It wasn’t easy to go from being the best player in the Premier League to being part of a team fighting relegation,” added the winger.


   It’s not the same job.    Everyone is waiting for you around the corner.” In 2018, Mahrez finally secured his high-profile transfer when he moved to Manchester City for £60 million, making him the most expensive African player at the time. This record was surpassed a year later when  moved Nicolas Pepe to Arsenal for £72 million.

   During his time at the Etihad Stadium, Mahrez won four league titles, three EFL Cups, two FA Cups and a Champions League title in five years before moving to Saudi professional league side Al-Ahli last year.    In his first four league games this season, Mahrez has yet to register a goal or assist.