Riyad Mahrez: I will give my all for Leicester

by Phumzile Ngcatshe

Monday Feb 12, 2018. 12:30

Just before their 5-1 loss against Manchester City, Algeria and Leicester City winger Riyad Mahrez has explained his absence at the King Power Stadium.

The Foxes winger trained for the first time on Friday ahead of the English Premier League encounter on Saturday and defended his absence from training.

Mahrez submitted a transfer request to the club for a move to City, but the move to the log leaders was rejected on deadline day last month, which sparked a dispute between player and club.

Media reports suggested that he is depressed and unhappy after the failed move, but he said the club knew his whereabouts.

"Off the back of that many people and journalists have made assumptions without properly checking the story, so I would like to clarify that all those so-called assumptions of why I was absent are completely untrue,” he said in a statement in the Leicester Mercury.

"I have been a part of the Leicester City team that has achieved much success including promotion to the Premier League and being Champions of the League.

"My goals have always been the same and I have always given my full 100% when I play for the club the fans and my team-mates.

"Those goals remain the same today and in the future and when I am asked to be a part of the Leicester team, rest assured I will continue to give my all."

The Desert Foxes international made his return on Saturday and came on as a substitute in their loss against Pep Guardiola’s men.

Reports indicated that the 2015/16 EPL champions rejected a City bid of around £50m for Mahrez and his future remains unclea