- Mahrez reveals first conversation with Pep Guardiola
- Manager made his intentions clear
- Prompted Man City to facilitate transfer
When Manchester City made a move to sign Riyad Mahrez, the winger was never going to say no after an on-pitch conversation with Pep Guardiola.
Riyad Mahrez made a name for himself at Leicester City, bagging 27 goal contributions during a campaign which saw the club win the Premier League title.
Mahrez appeared in all bar one of the Foxes’ league matches that season, and he registered four goals and two assists in the Champions League the following year.
It was only going to be a matter of time before another club came knocking, and in the end Mahrez had two options.
Pep Guardiola convinced Riyad Mahrez to join Man City
Mahrez might never have joined City, had it not been for the persistence of Pep Guardiola in bringing him to the club.
According to the 35-year-old, his former manager attempted to recruit him immediately after a match which saw Man City face off against Leicester.
“Pep [Guardiola] was like, ‘I love you. I love the way you play’,” Mahrez told Koora Break.
“He caught me when we [Leicester] played at home against Man City. After the game, he came to me, ‘I’d love to have you. You’re a crazy player. You’d do everything in my team’.
“And I said, ‘Yeah, get me there’. Then he winked [and said] don’t worry.’
“He was straight to me. Sometimes he’d speak to players in-game, after games, you should’ve done that, done this,” Mahrez continued.
“He came to me and said, ‘You’re coming. I want you. I’d love to have you’. Then, to be fair, they made everything for me to come, they paid the price, £60 million, and I arrived direct.
Mahrez could have signed for Chelsea
Around that period of time, Chelsea were a very good team. In fact, they won the Premier League title in 2017.
The Algerian has revealed that he could have opted for a move to Stamford Bridge, in a move which would have seen him unite with N’Golo Kante.
However, it seems Mahrez was already convinced by Guardiola, because the Catalan coach made him feel wanted.
“From the minute they wanted me, Man City was my only club I wanted to go,” Mahrez added, “because I could have gone to Chelsea as well.”
Mahrez does not regret choosing City
After committing himself to Man City, Mahrez was part of a Premier League-winning team for the second time after only one season.
He would go on to win another four top flight titles, as well as three League Cups, two FA Cups and the Champions League.
Chelsea also became European champions during this time period, defeating City in the final round. However, they failed to win a single domestic trophy.
Considering the situation as a whole, Mahrez definitely made the correct decision to climb aboard the Guardiola express.
It is a reminder of just how successful the manager has been at Man City, and that he will be truly missed by all those who remain at the club, should he depart this summer.
