"I did not give a s**t about going to play for Marseille", says Riyad Mahrez - 7M sport

"I did not give a s**t about going to play for Marseille", says Riyad Mahrez



Posted Tuesday, April 26, 2016 by squawka.com

Leicester City attacker Riyad Mahrez has said that he would have never signed for Marseille after being rejected by the French club in January 2015.

The Algerian was reportedly offered to Marseille by his agent last year but the Ligue 1 side's president, Vincent Labrune, turned him down in a rather insulting manner.

"Do you really think that Leicester players now have a place at Olympique Marseille, in the project we've got?," Labrune is quoted as saying by the Daily Mirror.

"To save time, let me tell you, we try to be professional and qualitative with our recruitment. The probability of us taking this sort of player is zero.

"Don't take this the wrong way, but I don't put up with people taking me for a sucker."

His dismissive email became public knowledge, but even if they had wanted him, Mahrez insists that he has always been happy at Leicester and wouldn't have moved back to France.

"I was not aware of it at the time," the 25-year-old told Onze Mondial (via Get French Football News). "I learnt about this story at the same time as everyone else.

"No, because already, when it came down to it, I did not even want to go to Marseille. It was [his agent] Kamel who initiated things, to ask, to see.

"And the guys from Marseille answered in a way that we are all aware of. But me, I was happy in England in any case.

"I wanted to play for Marseille when I was young. But once I was at Leicester, I did not give a s**t about going to play for Marseille.

"Honestly, even if [Labrune] had said to me: ‘Sign for Marseille, we are counting on you,' I would not have gone. I promise you. Because there are too many players who slip through the net in France."

Mahrez picked up the PFA Player of the Year award on Sunday thanks to his efforts for Leicester this season, where he has scored 17 league goals and created a further 52 chances for his teammates.

He is the first ever African player to receive the accolade as the Foxes continue their charge towards the most unlikely of Premier League victories.

Claudio Ranieri's men need just one win from their remaining three games to lift the title next month, but they do face difficult opponents in Manchester United, Everton and Chelsea in those fixtures.

This weekend, Mahrez ensured the Foxes took a huge step towards the trophy by scoring the first goal in a 4-0 win over Swansea City. The 25-year-old also won an impressive six take-ons, whilst also, perhaps surprisingly, contributing six defensive actions.



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