Pep Guardiola has revealed that he was keen on Riyad Mahrez to stay at Manchester City this season.
Ahead of his side’s upcoming clash against Luton Town (via BeanymanSports), the Catalan tactician had his say on Mahrez’s £30 million (Sky Sports) move to Al-Ahli this summer.
Recently, the Algerian winger admitted that the Spaniard and Txiki Begiristain expressed their desire to prolong his spell at the club.
Pep Guardiola says he wanted Riyad Mahrez to stay at Manchester City this season
It was reported in July by journalist Graeme Bailey that Pep Guardiola “broke” the former Leicester City talisman’s trust by benching him in both of the side’s finals last season against Manchester United and Inter Milan.
Micah Richards believes that as things stand, the Sky Blues have missed Mahrez’s presence this season.
Pep Guardiola has confirmed that he wished for both Riyad Mahrez and Ilkay Gundogan not to leave Manchester City in the summer.
“I wanted [Ilkay Gundogan] Gundo to stay here, I wanted Riyad [Mahrez] to stay here, but they wanted to leave! For a new challenge in life, family issues, whatever.”
“Thank you so much guys, because never it could have happened without you, never, impossible, impossible”, he said via BeanymanSports.
Riyad Mahrez is being missed by the treble-winners
As Manchester City also ended up selling Cole Palmer to Chelsea, Riyad Mahrez is yet to be replaced by Pep Guardiola and Co.
While it seemed like Jeremy Doku could succeed the five-time Premier League winner, he has largely played as a left-winger since his arrival and thrived.
As a result, the likes of Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva have been deployed on the right flank, where the pair do not look at their absolute best due to being natural midfielders by trade.
If Riyad Mahrez had chosen to stay at the Etihad Stadium, one could imagine him starting regularly this campaign.
