Guardiola goes cold on Mahrez
RIYAD MAHREZ’S misery is set to be compounded by Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola turning his back on him for good.
City bid £60million for Mahrez (above) only to
walk away from the deal on deadline day after Leicester indicated they valued their prize asset at £95m.
Since seeing his dream move to City collapse, Mahrez has gone on strike – refusing to turn up for training and missing Leicester’s last two games.
Mahrez is set to continue his self-imposed exile by missing Saturday’s clash against runaway Premier League leaders City at the Etihad Stadium.
City boss Guardiola initially left the door open to a fresh summer bid for Mahrez – as he is still keen to add another attacking option to his squad.
But the Spaniard is said to have major concerns at the way Mahrez has dealt with the fall-out from his failed move and will now look elsewhere.
Leicester have failed to win both games without Mahrez and his prolonged absence has become a major headache for boss Claude Puel and the club.
The 26-year-old has submitted transfer requests in the last two windows and is desperate to leave.
But the Algerian international is facing an increasingly uncertain future the longer he is AWOL from the King Power.