Riyad Mahrez reveals why he left Man City to join Saudi Arabia giants Al-Ahli – but insists he has ‘unfinished business’ in the Champions League after sitting on Pep Guardiola’s bench in the final
Riyad Mahrez has lifted the lid on his £30million move to Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ahli, revealing it was his decision to leave Manchester City after winning the Treble.
The Algerian winger, who has a rich portfolio of trophies to his name at the Etihad, came through in style by winning the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League last season before agreeing to retire in the summer to join the Saudi giants.
Despite adding a maiden Champions League medal to his collection last season, Mahrez was not picked by Pep Guardiola to start against Real Madrid in the last four or against Inter Milan in the final.
The former Leicester City title winner was not even brought off the bench during the showpiece final in Istanbul in June.
As he opened up about his departure from City, Mahrez admitted he was deeply disappointed to miss crucial games but insisted that was not the reason he left the Etihad in July.
Former Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez has opened up about his departure from Etihad last summer
Pep Guardiola and Mahrez share an animated conversation as the Algerian prepares to take the bench during Manchester City’s Champions League final against Inter Milan in June
After missing the Champions League final, Mahrez insisted he has ‘unfinished business’
“I still had two years left in my contract with Manchester City, I could have stayed,” Mahrez told the French newspaper L’Equipe this week.
‘It was actually me who decided to leave. I felt that this opportunity (to join Al-Ahli) would not come again. Maybe it was time to leave because I played at City for five years and won everything.’
The 32-year-old star is now Al-Ahli’s main man, alongside fellow Premier League stars Roberto Firmino, Edouard Mendy and Allan Saint-Maximin, and chose to start a new chapter away from the spotlight of European football.
That’s why Mahrez signed his £43 million-a-year contract, knowing he would no longer be able to shine in the Champions League.
“To be honest, I still have a taste for unfinished business,” Mahrez admitted. ‘In the Champions League I didn’t play the semi-finals or the final. In previous seasons I always started in the Champions League, while I always had an impact for my team.
‘I couldn’t say that things went badly last year, but I do have the feeling that the matter is not yet concluded. I was offered four years in Saudi Arabia, in a Muslim country where I can certainly protect (and provide for) my family. There was also a new challenge and a new project. So I decided to leave, it was no problem.’
The 32-year-old winger (left) signed for Saudi Arabian team Al-Ahli as part of a £30 million move
Although a starting place was not always guaranteed, the Algerian played a key role in City’s attack
Mahrez, pictured with Aymeric Laporte (left), who also moved to Saudi Arabia this summer to join Al-Nassr, won a hatful of trophies at the Etihad and bowed out after winning the Treble
According to Mahrez, Manchester City’s chiefs tried to entice City to stay for another year, with experienced players Aymeric Laporte, Ilkay Gundogan and Joao Cancelo on their way out.
‘Txiki Begiristain (technical director) really wanted me to stay, and even Pep Guardiola. They made it clear to me. I have weighed the pros and cons. And finally I decided to leave. I don’t regret it, I’m happy to be here.
‘The level of the Saudi competition is not bad. It’s going to keep getting better and better. It’s a championship I’m learning. Here they have put the resources into recruiting the best players. There is definitely quality, I think this is just the beginning.
‘Can we compare it with Europe? I don’t think so yet. But at this rate they could be one of the five, six or seven best championships in the world in the near future.”
Mahrez appears to have a row with the Spanish boss during City’s 2021 clash with RB Leipzig
He joined both Roberto Firmino (left) and Edouard Mendy (right) in the ambitious Saudi team
Mahrez (left) won the Premier League with Leicester before joining Manchester City in 2018