Foxes of Leicester
Fansided

Monchi: Leicester City blocked Riyad Mahrez’s move to FC Barcelona and AS Roma

By Harneet Singh Sethi

LEICESTER, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 24: Riyad Mahrez of Leicester City celebrates scoring his sides third goal during the Caraboa Cup Fourth Round match between Leicester City and Leeds United at The King Power Stadium on October 24, 2017 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
LEICESTER, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 24: Riyad Mahrez of Leicester City celebrates scoring his sides third goal during the Caraboa Cup Fourth Round match between Leicester City and Leeds United at The King Power Stadium on October 24, 2017 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) /
twitterredditfacebook

Leicester City blocked Riyad Mahrez’s move to both FC Barcelona and AS Roma, the Italian club’s Sporting Director Monchi has revealed.

Having handed in a transfer request during the summer, Riyad Mahrez was the subject of much speculation all through the transfer window, with a number of Europe’s top clubs reported to have expressed their interest in him.

The Algerian was initially expected to be a top transfer target for Arsenal; however, the Gunners never submitted a formal bid for him, as didn’t the other linked Premier League clubs, namely Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and Everton.

It was AS Roma who made an official approach for Riyad Mahrez to replace Mohamed Salah, submitting as many as three bids for the 2015/16 PFA player of the year, but Leicester City remained stubborn and refused to accept any offer below £50 million.

Next: Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi opens up about tough past

Roma’s Sporting Director Monchi has now spoken up about the transfer saga, insisting that his side weren’t the only one to have failed in Mahrez’s pursuit, with FC Barcelona facing a similar disappointment.

Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, Monchi said:

"“We wanted a forward that could replace Mohamed Salah and we thought of [Riyad] Mahrez.“However, if the deal was not carried out it was because the club did not want to sell [him]. It’s not an excuse, since they also said no to Barcelona.”"

Monchi also stated that the Serie A giants won’t make any further attempt to sign Riyad Mahrez from Leicester City, meaning that the winger would be short of at least one suitor once the January transfer window opens.

Mahrez is still wanting a move away from the King Power Stadium, a desire that the new manager Claude Puel is well aware of. The Foxes boss recently spoke of a plan to seduce anyone on the look for a way out of the East Midlands, and though he didn’t refer to Riyad Mahrez, we know who he was talking about. He said:

"“It is down to me to make these players want to stay by the fact we are playing good football. I have always got to attract them, to seduce them.“It is down to me to create that environment where these players want to thrive and stay and be happy and to enjoy themselves, their football and the plans that we have.“It is normal for a player, if they win the title and play Champions League, that sometimes there is disappointment, frustration because now they know the high level.“My door is always open and it is important to listen, to try to tell them it is a different opportunity, that they feel they can improve.”"

Home/Leicester City News