I will give my everything, vows Mahrez

Riyad Mahrez has finally broken his silence on his deadline-day frustration after the first goal since the now infamous strike.

Mahrez admits it was a “difficult situation” when runaway Premier League leaders Manchester City’s late bid to sign him was blocked by Leicester City on the final day of the January transfer window.

Pep Guardiola, the Manchester City manager, was prepared to pay up to £60million for the winger, but Leicester stood firm and demanded a far higher fee.

Mahrez submitted a second transfer request in under 12 months in a bid to force a move and then went on strike for 10 days, before returning to the Leicester squad.

His spectacular 97th-minute free-kick against Bournemouth was his first goal since that January drama and he has pledged to remain fully committed while he stays a Leicester player.

“It was a difficult situation but, while I am here, I will give everything for the club,” he said. “I was pleased with the way the fans have been with me through this. It was important for me. That’s why I will keep giving everything for the club.”

Mahrez’s set-piece, from 30 yards, earned Leicester a barely deserved point and underlined why the former champions were asking for a fee of around £80million.

Inevitably, the transfer speculation will crank back into life over the summer and most Leicester fans are probably grateful to simply have another two months of watching the Algerian in a blue jersey.

Bournemouth had defended brilliantly, after taking the lead through Josh King’s first-half penalty, but Mahrez’s late strike broke the visitors’ resistance.

It means Bournemouth are still yet to lose against Leicester in the Premier League, but defender Steve Cook insisted the goal should not have happened.

“I don’t know where they have got seven minutes of added time from – it was a sickening blow for us to concede so late,” he said.