Before landing in Manchester City, Riyad Mahrez had made a name for himself at Leicester City. His exceptional season in 2015-2016, punctuated by the historic title of the Foxes and the trophy of best Premier League player, had earned him a 7ᵉ place in the Ballon d'Or, in front of his teammate Jamie Vardy. This success propelled him to the European scene and opened the doors of City to him.
Under Pep Guardiola, Mahrez quickly established himself as an essential holder on the right flank of Manchester City. In five seasons, he accumulated 78 goals and 56 assists in 236 games, becoming one of the pillars of the Guardiola era, before seeing his role decrease in his last season.
As a result, Mahrez retains a feeling of unfinished. “In the Champions League, I did not play the semi-final or the final during our coronation in 2022-2023”says the winger for the square podcast. “The previous seasons, I was still a holder and impacting. This last year, I weighed the pros and cons, and I finally decided to leave ”explains the Algerian international. A departure motivated by a reduced playing time in the key moments of the competition.
“He thinks of everyone”
Mahrez, currently in Al-Ahli, does not hide his frustration towards Guardiola, although he recognizes his professionalism.
“He thinks of everyone, not just me. But I know that if I had been more often on the ground, I might have been closer to the Ballon d'Or ”he regrets. Words that reveal some regret in the face of what he considers a missed opportunity.
Pep Guardiola, for his part, has always stressed the importance of players like Mahrez for the collective. Last January, he recalled: “Offensive players must deliver goals and assists. You can't just count on Haaland. The biggest clubs need scorers like Agüero, Gabriel Jesus … But also Riyad Mahrez. »»
