Riyad Mahrez has told Leicester that he wants to leave the club, just 12 months after helping them to the Premier League title.
Mahrez was an intergral part in the most phenomenal of title triumphs with Leicester last season, winning the PFA Player of the Year award as well as his Premier League winners medal.
However, just one year after one of the greatest footballing stories, the Algerian has told the club he wants to leave.
In a statement, he said:
“Out of the huge respect and admiration I hold for Leicester City Football Club, I wanted to be totally honest and transparent with them and have therefore informed the club that I feel now is the time for me to move on.
“I had a good discussion with the chairman last summer and we agreed at that time I would stay for another year to help the club as best I could following the transition of winning the title and in the Champions League.
“However, I am fiercely ambitious and feel that now is the time to move on to a new experience.
“I’ve always enjoyed a good relationship with the Chairman and everyone at the club, and I hope I have been able to repay the faith shown to me by my performances and commitment on the pitch during my time here.
“I’ve had the four best seasons of my career at Leicester and have loved every moment. I feel immense pride to have been a part of what we have achieved during my time at the club, culminating in becoming Premier League Champions.
“The relationship I share with the club and our amazing fans is something I will treasure forever and I truly hope they will understand and respect my decision.”
Leicester City’s 2016/17 season could not have been different from their title winning campaign. The Foxes were in serious danger of relegation until Claudio Ranieri was sacked back in March.
Mahrez himself saw his form suffer. In the title winning campaign, Mahrez scored 17 goal in 37 appearances on the way to the title, but those numbers dropped to just six goals this season.
He has been linked with a move to Arsenal, while Barcelona were also interested in signing the winger last summer.
