Ex-Man City Star Mahrez Opens Up on Barcelona Dream and Messi

Several top European clubs, including Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Manchester United, engaged in talks to sign Riyad Mahrez following his standout role in Leicester City's 2016 Premier League title triumph. However, transfer negotiations stalled due to Leicester’s high asking price and the absence of a release clause in Mahrez’s contract.

The Algerian winger, now 35, disclosed in an interview with Koora Break that his ultimate ambition was to wear the Barcelona jersey and play alongside Lionel Messi during the club’s recent golden era. He said, “My dream was to play for Barcelona with [Pep] Guardiola and Messi. I spoke to many teams before joining City. I spoke to Real Madrid, Barcelona and United, but Leicester were asking for very high transfer fees to let me go, and I didn’t have a release clause, so I couldn’t join those teams.”

Mahrez’s contract situation contrasted with that of his former Leicester teammate N’Golo Kante, who included a €30 million release clause enabling his transfer to Chelsea shortly after their title win. Mahrez admitted turning down such a clause, which forced him to remain at Leicester for two additional seasons despite interest from Europe’s elite.

After staying at Leicester until 2018, Mahrez secured a £60 million transfer to Manchester City, where he became a key player under Pep Guardiola. His tenure at City was marked by significant success, including four Premier League titles, five domestic trophies, and a Champions League victory in his final season with the club.

In 2023, Mahrez moved to the Saudi Pro League, concluding a period in England that established him as one of the top African footballers in the Premier League’s history. Although his dream of joining Barcelona alongside Messi did not materialize, his career achievements at Manchester City underscored his impact at the highest level of club football.