Leicester City’s new cub “Algerian Di Maria” Riyad Mahrez

On 11 January Riyad Mahrez finally completed a transfer to Championship outfit Leicester City in a £400,000 move. The Blues are atop the Championship this season, and are looking to solidify their chances for promotion by augmenting their attacking personnel. Plenty of names were mentioned, among them Bradford City’s Nakhi Wells and journeyman striker Kevin Phillips. But it would be Riyad Mahrez whom Nigel Pearson first acquired in the winter transfer window.

Signing a left-footed inverted winger is not uncharted territory for Leicester. In 2012 a highly touted France youth international, Anthony Knockaert, was purchased for an affordable, tidy sum. And even a shallow following of the Championship is enough to inform you of the Franco-Belgian’s success.

The first assertion that must be established is that Riyad Mahrez is a different kind of player. Knockaert came to the East Midlands with an august reputation. He had racked up 11 goals and fashioned 4 assists at the tender age of twenty. Mahrez arrives under substantially different conditions. Leicester have already built momentum and are not requiring Mahrez to contribute immediately. The general sentiment is that the former Le Havre man is but a strong reinforcement at the moment. Such a setting is more conducive to Mahrez’s development as he won’t be burdened with any crippling pressure from the get-go.

So what kind of player can Leicester City fans expect? Even in France Mahrez is almost an unknown quantity. Leicester’s scouting team is to be commended for spotting potential in the winger. Though he is very much in the developing stage of his career, Mahrez has all the requisite tools to become a valuable asset in the Championship or (hopefully) in the Premier League.

As aforementioned, his primary position is that of an inverted winger. His slender frame and ease on the ball lend credence to a striking moniker. On plenty an internet forum, Mahrez has been dubbed ‘The Algerian Di Maria’. Of course, such comparisons are nothing more than sardonic appellations and no one is expecting Mahrez to reach the levels Angel Di Maria has. But aesthetically speaking, the comparison holds true.

Mahrez not only adopts the Argentine’s offensive inclinations, but is also commended for his generous efforts off of the ball. In Championship terms, ‘he isn’t afraid to get stuck in and put in a shift’. Another quite positive attribute the 22 year-old possesses is his unwavering self-belief. If he fails to successfully get the better of his marker, his confidence will not waver and he will continue to attack the defender with the same amount of enthusiasm. His profile might be described as arrogant, but such a style is not so common in the Championship and may, therefore, be advantageous.

If there is one characteristic Mahrez often changes, it is his hairstyle. It seems that every fortnight or so the lanky winger visits his barber and gets himself a new do.

At Le Havre, Mahrez was at his best when demonstrating a synergy with other technically accomplished players. Walid Mesloub, another French-Algeiran who played centrally, often providing outlet passes that would become the basis for Mahrez’s ambitious forages. The presence of other Francophone players at the club could help the winger to acclimatise quickly; adjusting should not be an issue at a family club such as Leicester City.

While Mahrez does have adequate amounts of technique and flair, that does not mean he is a finished product. His aforementioned determination when taking on defenders could transmute into a liability if he does not get his head up often enough. And though he plays bigger than his size, the Championship is more physical than Ligue 2 so a physical adaptation period may be necessary. Patience may also be needed with regard to his statistical output. Mahrez hasn’t been as efficient as can be, and he often scores and assists in pockets throughout the season.

Though Mahrez has aspirations to play for the Algerian national football team, he is currently buried under a sludge of talent. The likes of Sofiane Feghouli, Yacine Brahimi and Ryad Boudebouz are but a few attacking talents at the Algerian national team’s disposal. It may be a while before Riyad Mahrez wins his first senior cap.

The best-case scenario for the Foxes is that a diamond is unearthed and Mahrez seamlessly integrates into this already impressive Leicester City side. The worst-case scenario is that Mahrez can’t come to grips with the English game and Leicester, but even then, Leicester should be able to unload him for about the same discounted transfer fee they already paid. Leicester City fans should not expect too much too quickly. If Mahrez is allowed an adaptation period, he will grow into his role at the club and certainly become a player the Leicester faithful will learn to appreciate.