Mahrez conflict poses new challenge for Leicester
MANCHESTER: The trouble with transfer deadlines is that while dreams can come true amidst the rush of deals, players can also have their hopes dashed and clubs can be left with the awkward task of patching up damaged relationships.
That is exactly the situation that Leicester City and their manager Claude Puel find themselves in after they were unable to agree terms with Manchester City over the sale of Foxes winger Riyad Mahrez.
The Leicester Mercury newspaper said the Foxes turned down City’s final bid of £65 million plus an unnamed player for Mahrez, a deal that would have broken the Manchester club’s transfer record.
Leicester valued Mahrez at around £95m, but City were unwilling to meet that fee, according to British media reports.
Mahrez had submitted a transfer request, missed training and was not included in Wednesday’s 2-1 defeat at Everton following reports that he was “depressed” by the club’s failure to sell him. Some media reports also suggested he was not willing to play for the club again.
But while a close season departure may eventually satisfy the Algerian, who was a key figure in Leicester’s 2016 Premier League title win, Puel now has to ensure the situation does not upset his team, who are in eighth place ahead of tomorrow’s game against a revived Swansea City.
“All the players, all the staff, will help him to come back with a smile, to enjoy his football with his teammates because he is a great player, fantastic, a good man and he likes football,” said Puel. “Of course, for the moment, I did not speak with Riyad, but perhaps there is a lot of disappointment. We will see when we can manage all this for the future.”
During the close season transfer window, Mahrez left Algeria’s training camp in order to wait for a move to Roma which also failed to materialise. He was eventually reintegrated into the squad and Leicester’s fans, on the whole, forgave him for his push to leave.
Whether the fans and players react with the same tolerance this time around remains to be seen, as does the issue of whether he will even try to fit back in again.
“I think the players know it will be difficult sometimes for Riyad and we have a fantastic group, squad, all the players have a fantastic relationship and understanding between themselves. All the players will give their best for Riyad,” said Puel.
“We know the situation. We can understand his reaction. It is a difficult situation for him and the club.”
Meanwhile, Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil has signed a new contract to extend his stay in north London, the Premier League club said yesterday.
The 29-year-old Germany international confirmed on Twitter that he had agreed a three-and-a-half year deal.
“It’s been one of the most important decisions of my footballing career and that’s why I had to think hard and talk to everyone who’s important to me,” Ozil said. – Reuters