Leicester hit stayaway Mahrez with £240,000 fine

LEICESTER City have fined Riyad Mahrez £240,000 (€273,000) for his two-week absence, while Claude Puel has confirmed the winger will miss tomorrow’s clash at Manchester City.

Mahrez will be punished by Leicester after extending his strike into a second week, with the £80 million-rated star understood to have been spending time in Algeria with family and close friends.

Though Leicester are determined to handle a delicate situation carefully, the hierarchy has decided that the 26-year-old will be hit in the pocket with a fine of two weeks’ wages.

Puel, the manager, was unable to confirm or deny whether he had either spoken to Mahrez this week or knew of his whereabouts, in a difficult press conference yesterday.

The Frenchman also declined to offer a date on Mahrez’s anticipated return, but revealed he will not be involved tomorrow night against Manchester City, the club who failed to sign him on deadline day.

“I hope Riyad can get his head right and come back with us, to hard work,” said Puel. “Riyad is a magnificent player, he loves football, he loves his relationship with his friends, his team-mates. He enjoys his football.

“I think he needs to come back to play, to touch the ball. It’s important. I hope he can come back and work hard with the team sooner rather than later. We will see. I don’t want to give details about our relationship. It is important that remains inside the club.”

Mahrez submitted a written transfer request last Tuesday in a bid to force the move, but Leicester demanded a fee of £80m, which City refused to pay. Talks between Mahrez, his representatives and Leicester are thought to be ongoing and the club remain hopeful he will return to training next week.