Manchester City has reportedly snubbed a generous £18m offer from Al-Ahli, a prominent Saudi Pro League club, for their highly skilled winger, Riyad Mahrez. The Algerian talent has made quite the impact since joining the Citizens in 2018, notching an impressive 78 goals and 59 assists in 236 appearances across various competitions.
Mahrez’s contributions have been a vital part of Manchester City’s success, securing an astonishing 11 trophies during his time at the Etihad Stadium. Last season, he played an instrumental role in the team’s historic triumph, clinching the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League treble. His outstanding performance of 15 goals and 13 assists in 47 matches cemented his status as a key player.
However, the 2022-23 season saw Mahrez subjected to significant rotation by Manager Pep Guardiola. As a result, he completed the full 90 minutes in the Premier League only on 11 occasions and played a mere 11 minutes in the Champions League from the quarter-finals to the final.
Despite this, the 32-year-old winger still has two years left on his contract with Manchester City. Nevertheless, recent rumors have sparked speculation regarding his future, with Al-Ahli expressing a keen interest in acquiring his services. Reports suggest that Mahrez and the Saudi club have already reached a personal agreement, and Al-Ahli has even scheduled a medical for the experienced player.
The Daily Mail reports that Al-Ahli has made an opening bid of €21m (£18m) for Mahrez, but Manchester City has turned down the offer. The English club is now anticipating an improved bid from Al-Ahli, a club that has been garnering attention since it, along with Al-Ittihad, Al-Hilal, and Al-Nassr, was taken over by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.
Al-Ahli has been aggressive in their pursuit of top-tier talent from European leagues, with recent marquee signings of Edouard Mendy and Roberto Firmino from Chelsea and Liverpool, respectively. Additionally, they are currently in pursuit of Newcastle United’s winger Allan Saint-Maximin.
With Mahrez’s future uncertain and several other first-team stars facing potential exits, Manchester City may be hesitant to part ways with him. Notably, Bernardo Silva has been linked to a potential move to Saudi Arabia, with Al-Hilal expressing interest. Moreover, Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona have also shown interest in him.
Kyle Walker is also facing an uncertain future, contemplating a possible move to Bayern Munich, while Aymeric Laporte, Joao Cancelo, and Kalvin Phillips are among others who have been rumored to exit the Etihad this summer.