What Riyad Mahrez said of Leicester City, the hand that once fed him and “He we never forget”

Ungrateful former Leicester City star Riyad Mahrez has been moaning about the Foxes. The winger just can’t help himself but to go on and on about the occasion (or occasions) when beloved late LCFC chairman and owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha refused to sell him. As was, of course, the Boss’s prerogative. I can tell you personally that the Blue Army would rather put that chapter to bed. Not to mention have a favourite son of a bygone team remember his era with affection as opposed to constantly raking up minor negatives.

The late King Power leader took the Algerian from French League Two obscurity and opened the door to the big time for him. There’s a huge possibility that without Leicester’s care, attention and nurturing, Mahrez might not have perhaps realised his true potential. Nor may the 33-year-old have possibly ended up obtaining the transfer of a lifetime to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. Who knows?!

What Riyad Mahrez said of Leicester City, the hand that once fed him

The forward claims Leicester City blocked a move to Arsenal years ago. And his opinion of the scenario isn’t particularly polite, essentially saying that he wasted two years at King Power Stadium. Well, he was under the very contract he signed himself. And we at least avoided relegation in that period – so, cheers Riyad!

“For me, it’s clear that I lost two years at the highest level. I lost two years! Because instead of arriving at City at 27, I could have been there at 24, 25. Leicester blocked me. They told me: ‘You’re not leaving, you’re not leaving’. My agent had spoken to [Arsene] Wenger who really wanted me. It was nearly all done with Arsenal in 2016. I was really frustrated”

Some people consider him a bit of a wrong-un, but he’s a significant part of Foxes history – we must all move on!

It’s a real shame that well-informed City supporters can’t look back on one of their greatest players’ time on Filbert Way with fondness. Mahrez’s unnecessary, incorrect, disrespectful and inflammatory comments are what we’ve come to expect. And the ill-advised statements truly reveal just what type of man he is.

You didn’t really need to see any more evidence for a Mahrez character assassination than his reality show Married To The Game. The unchivalrous, uneducated and belittling behaviour exhibited to his wife on that programme was enough to put most people off the Algeria international.

Even after my scathing assessment, the wingman still holds a place in my own heart. Believe it or not! As with Jamie Vardy and N’golo Kante in particular, LCFC wouldn’t have been the 2015/16 top-flight champions without Mahrez. Hopefully he’ll see sense and say or write more realistic and kind things of the east Midlands club in future.