Mahrez said his biggest football dream was to play for Barcelona alongside Lionel Messi under Pep Guardiola. He explained that he spoke to several major clubs before joining Manchester City, including Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Manchester United. He said Leicester demanded very high transfer fees and he had no release clause, which prevented those transfers. He also said a contract choice during his Leicester City period affected his options, contrasting his situation with N’Golo Kante’s €30 million release clause that enabled a move to Chelsea. Mahrez later reunited with Guardiola at Manchester City, becoming a trusted attacking player and winning four Premier League titles, five domestic trophies, and the Champions League in England.
"“My dream was to play for Barcelona with 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.”"
"“[N'Golo] Kante was smarter to include a €30 million release clause in his contract to join Chelsea, whereas I had turned it down, which forced me to stay at Leicester for two more years.”"
"Mahrez became one of the Premier League's most entertaining attackers during his time at Leicester City and Manchester City, and he played a historic role in Leicester City's unforgettable Premier League title-winning campaign. He then became one of the most wanted wingers in European football, with several major clubs reportedly exploring a deal during that period, including Barcelona and Real Madrid."
Read at Barca Universal
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