Leicester City star Riyad Mahrez was linked to several top clubs in Europe during the transfer window, as was expected after his performances last season. Arsenal were probably the English club linked most with a move for Mahrez, but there were more from around Europe.
The Algerian, however, opted to stay with the Foxes and even penned down a new contract at the club. The 25-year-old has been speaking to French TV Canal Plus (via Made in Foot), and was asked if he’d like to sign for Marseille.
Mahrez insists a move to Marseille doesn’t interest him despite supporting them as a kid and watching the likes of Didier Drogba and Franck Ribery at the Ligue 1 club.
He said: “I’m good at Leicester, we’ve grown together, it was crazy. Marseille is a club that I loved as a youngster with the likes of Drogba and Ribery, but even to finish my career there, it doesn’t interest me.”
Mahrez even ruled out a move to Paris-Saint Germain, and Leicester City fans should be delighted to hear that. He added: “I was born in the Parisian suburbs, but it doesn’t interest me.”
French newspaper L’Equipe have a different part of the interview and they see some of Mahrez’s comments as being about Arsenal. L’Equipe say that ‘when the Arsenal offer came’ Mahrez hadn’t wanted conflict with Leicester: “I stayed, it’s a good choice, the coach trusts me, for me to prove myself a second year.”
It would appear Arsenal didn’t seem to determined to push either.
