Danny Higginbotham: Riyad Mahrez’s behaviour could affect his career

by Graeme Jackson

Saturday Feb 03, 2018. 09:00

Former Premier League player and current pundit Danny Higginbotham believes Riyad Mahrez’s current behaviour could have a negative effect on his career.

The Algerian star is reportedly depressed and frustrated after Leicester City rebuffed a big-money offer for the player from Manchester City just before the close of the January transfer window.

Mahrez has missed training with the Foxes on both Thursday and Friday, and will not be considered for selection for their Premier League match at home to Swansea City later today.

The Algerian has made his desire to leave Leicester very clear, but Higginbotham believes the player would be best served by getting back to work and earning a move through the power of his performances.

He told Sky Sports: "Mahrez probably saw Manchester City as a dream move but it's not happened and that's why he's a little bit frustrated by it and annoyed emotionally.

"If he does stay away from the training ground and if he doesn't get involved, he's going to be the one that loses out because it's going to affect him and affect other managers who do want him.

"What he needs to do, is what he did in the summer - come back in, get back involved with the dressing room again, show the ability he has got which got the bids and interest from Manchester City.

"When they won the Premier League, he signed a new contract. In the contract surely you get a fee you can be bought out for - that's something that should have been negotiated.

"If you're the football club you turn around to him and say 'Listen, get yourself back into the fold, we will let you go in the summer, this is how much we will let you go for and then you can move on from there.'

"He's now got to get on with it. It's the second time it's happened now and they'll be some players that are a little bit annoyed with him.

"I've been in situations in dressing rooms where players have wanted to leave but I've not been bothered in the slightest as long as it's not affected the team and he's not been out of order in the dressing room.

"The club holds the power because they have given him the contract, they're financially in a very stable position. Mahrez's problem will be that they've let some big players go, with the likes of Drinkwater and Kante leaving in recent seasons.

"There's having frustration but it's how you go about it. The one thing you don't do, unless he has permission to do, is stay away from training - that's not the way to go about things. All you are going to do is make the club dig their heels in even more.

"The best thing he can do now is get back involved in the team, go on and have a few good months until the end of the season and then see where the land lies."