Riyad Mahrez reveals Barcelona dream, Real Madrid talks and the Google search that changed everything
Former Leicester star says Madrid, Barça and Manchester United all wanted him before Pep Guardiola got his man for Manchester City.
Riyad Mahrez has revealed that his dream was to play for Barcelona alongside Lionel Messi under Pep Guardiola before eventually joining Manchester City.
The Algerian winger, one of Guardiola’s most trusted players during City’s dominant era, opened up about the transfer saga that followed Leicester City’s unforgettable Premier League title triumph. Speaking on Koora Break with Rio Ferdinand, Mahrez said several European giants tried to sign him, including Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester United.
But Leicester’s massive asking price prevented a move.
“My dream was to play for Barcelona with Guardiola and Messi,” Mahrez said. “I spoke with a lot of clubs before joining City. I spoke with Real Madrid, Barcelona and United, but Leicester were asking for very high transfer fees and I didn’t have a release clause, so I couldn’t leave for those clubs.”
The contract decision Mahrez regrets
Mahrez admitted he still regrets not including a release clause in his Leicester contract, especially after watching N’Golo Kanté secure a move to Chelsea.
“Kanté was smarter because he included a $40 million release clause in his contract to leave for Chelsea,” Mahrez explained. “I rejected that idea, which forced me to stay at Leicester for two more years.”
According to the former Algeria international, Guardiola personally convinced him to join.
“Guardiola came to me and said, ‘I’d really love for you to play for me. You’re an incredible player and you’d fit perfectly into my style of play,’” Mahrez recalled. “I told him, ‘Take me to your team.’”
Guardiola’s promise
Mahrez said Manchester City submitted four separate offers during the winter transfer window, but Leicester owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha refused to sell.
“In January, City wanted me and made four offers,” he said. “I called the Leicester owner asking him to accept them, but he wouldn’t answer me and refused to sell.”
City then reassured the winger that the deal would happen later.
“They told me, ‘Don’t worry, we’ll sign you in the summer,’ and they did.”
Mahrez would go on to become a key figure under Guardiola, winning four Premier League titles and helping City capture the Champions League before moving to Saudi club Al Ahli in 2023.
The bizarre tale of Mahrez’ Leicester move: “I Googled them”
The 34-year-old also shared the unlikely story behind his move to Leicester from French side Le Havre in 2014.
According to Mahrez, Leicester scouts originally traveled to watch another player before unexpectedly discovering him instead.
“The Leicester scout came to watch another player, but when he saw me, he asked, ‘Who is this?’” Mahrez said. “They watched me for a year and then made an offer, but honestly, I didn’t want to go there. I didn’t want to go to England. I wanted to stay in France.”
His dream at the time was to play for Marseille.
But his agent pushed hard for the move to England.
“My agent called me and said, ‘You have to sign for Leicester. They’re top of the Championship, they want you and this is the offer.’”
Mahrez admitted he initially tried to negotiate for more money, expecting Leicester to hesitate.
“I wanted to make things difficult and asked for more money,” he said. “They immediately agreed. That’s when I realized they really wanted me. It was an amazing feeling.”
Then came the moment that now feels almost impossible to imagine.
“I Googled Leicester City, accepted the offer and signed.”
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