Algeria boss Djamel Belmadi has told DZ Foot that he thinks Riyad Mahrez may be unhappy at Manchester City.
Mahrez, 29, joined City for a huge £60million in the summer of 2018, leaving Leicester City having become a star with the Foxes.
The winger hasn’t been lauded quite as much with City as he was with Leicester, but his record is fairly strong; 31 goals and 31 assists in 119 games.
Mahrez has endured something of a frustrating campaign this season, starting just 11 of City’s 20 Premier League games, meaning he has been in and out of the team.
With just two league starts in 2021, Mahrez hasn’t quite got going this year, with the likes of Raheem Sterling, Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden in great form.
Pep Guardiola does love to rotate, so maybe this isn’t anything out of the ordinary, but it’s making headlines over in Algeria.
Algeria boss Belmadi – ironically a former City player himself – has suggested that Mahrez isn’t 100% happy at City because he wants to play more regularly.
Belmadi added that he doesn’t want to ask Mahrez to leave City, but just wants him to make sure he is ready to play for his country even if he doesn’t start all the time for his club.
“Mahrez is probably not 100% happy because he would like to play more with Manchester City,” said Belmadi. “He is a competitor who wants to play all the meetings of his team.”
“I cannot ask him to leave his club to have a significant playing time in another team, I am not his manager, but the most important thing is that he maintains his form and is ready for the next National Team deadlines. Mahrez is our captain, I understand the fears of the supporters, but in my opinion, he has the qualities to bounce back again, I trust him,” he added.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
