Last week, rumors were rife that Riyad Mahrez had made his desire to return to Manchester City known and had secretly contacted La Liga giants Barcelona. However, in an interview, the Algerian star made it clear that life at City has been very satisfying for him and that he has no intention of returning.
Mahrez is looking to leave the Etihad this summer and has held initial talks over a possible move, according to Spanish channel Six. Mahrez's scandal with Arsenal and City striker Sterling's contact with the Gunners have caused rumors of his return to the club to heat up quickly. British media outlet Mirror, on the other hand, pointed out that City fans needn't worry too much because Mahrez has made it clear that he is enjoying his life in Manchester, a stance that almost rules out the possibility of him moving to North London.
In an interview with DZ Sports on Monday, after a 1-0 win for Algeria, Mahrez said, "There is nothing to say about my future, I am happy in Manchester. If God wills it, I will stay." Talking about his plans after losing the Champions League final to Chelsea last month, Mahrez once again reiterated his stance on the future. Not only did he express his expectations of staying at City in the short term, he also said that he would like to end his career here if given the chance.
City are still dealing with the financial impact of the new crown epidemic this summer. It wouldn't be surprising if City chose to sell some of their first team players in order to recoup funds.
For Manchester City, the choice to part with Mahrez does not seem wise. He already proved to be a key player in Pep Guardiola's team last season, scoring a crucial goal against Borussia Dortmund in the second leg of the Champions League quarterfinals and helping his side reach the final by scoring three goals in the two-legged tie against Paris Saint-Germain.
As such, the 30-year-old should not be a financial casualty for the team and he still has huge potential waiting to be tapped.
