Manchester City struggled badly in 2024/25 – and Gary Lineker reckons the club are missing a player they sold a couple of years ago.
Manchester City go into their final Premier League game of the season today against Fulham needing just a point to secure Champions League football.
City hopefully won’t slip up, but even if Champions League football is secured, this has been a highly disappointing campaign from Pep Guardiola’s side.
A squad rebuild will be overseen this summer, and the club have to ensure they sign a creator, especially with Kevin De Bruyne leaving Manchester City.
De Bruyne’s exit from City isn’t sitting well with a lot of people, but the decision has been made.
For Gary Lineker, though, City made a questionable call over another creative star only a couple of years ago.
Gary Lineker says Man City miss Riyad Mahrez
In the summer of 2023, Manchester City decided to sell Riyad Mahrez.
The winger had just finished his fifth season at the Etihad Stadium, after signing for the club from Leicester City for around £60 million.
Mahrez had struggled for regular starts in the second half of the 2022/23 season, and was an unused substitute for both the Champions League and FA Cup finals.
Mahrez joined Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli for around £30 million.
Since his exit, City have won just one major trophy and Gary Lineker believes City miss the star.
Choosing him as one of his 11 favourite Premier League players from his time presenting Match of the Day, he said: “Not just for what he did at Leicester but also Manchester City – I think they’ve really missed him since he left. What a beautiful footballer, what a bargain as well, he hardly cost any money.
“And his skinny little legs! He was one of the big four for Leicester when they won the league – Vardy was another one, [N’Golo] Kante and Kasper Schmeichel in goal, that spine, they were incredible, well, Mahrez wasn’t part of the spine, he was wide.
“When he first started, you thought ‘Crikey, this kid looks like he can play’, and by the time he left us [Leicester] he was wonderful. More than anything else, it was [because of] his first touch, he brought it down like it was always a feather landing on his foot.
“I’ve never known anyone with such a touch, he’s right up there with the likes of – not his overall ability, but in terms of his first touch – any of the players that you can think of.”
Earlier this season, pundit Craig Burley also suggested Man City were missing Mahrez.
Why Riyad Mahrez left Man City
Mahrez proved to be a superb signing for City.
In 236 appearances, he scored 78 goals and made 59 assists, helping the club to a hugely successful period.
He won 11 trophies at City, and is easily one of the greatest African players to ever grace the top-flight of English football.
Ultimately, going to Saudi was an opportunity Mahrez – who Cole Palmer previously said he learned a lot from – felt he could not pass up.
| Riyad Mahrez for Man City (2018-2023) |
| Appearances – 236 |
| Goals – 78 |
| Assists – 59 |
| Trophies won – 11 |
Mahrez, now 34, told L’Equipe in November 2023: “I had two years left on my contract with Manchester City, I could have stayed. It was really me who decided to leave.
“I felt that this opportunity would not come again. Maybe it was time to leave because I had spent five years at City and won everything.
“Txiki Begiristain (technical director) really wanted me to stay, and even Pep Guardiola. They made it clear to me. I weighed the pros and cons. And finally, I decided to leave. I don’t regret it, I’m happy to be here.”
