Riyad Mahrez is one of the greatest players to have ever worn the Leicester City shirt.
Bought for just £400k in 2014, Mahrez is one of Leicester’s greatest January signings of all time.
His role in the Premier League title-winning season and Champions League campaign eventually saw him sold on for a then club-record sale of £60m to Manchester City in 2018.
It was a bittersweet ending as Mahrez forced the Foxes into selling him – one year after confessing his desire to leave.
Leicester fans still high him in high regard, but in the months after his move, Mahrez couldn’t understand their reaction.
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Riyad Mahrez was surprised by Leicester fans booing him
Mahrez could’ve joined Arsenal in 2016 only for Leicester to block the move but in the end he went on to join Pep Guardiola at Man City.
He is one of the greatest African footballers of his generation and won countless league titles, as well as the Champions League.
However, despite his legendary status at the Foxes, his forced exit left a sour taste in the mouth of Leicester fans, who booed him.
“I didn’t understand why the fans booed me when I played there a year later with City. I was surprised to be fair,” he told Sky Sports in 2020. “It was tough to go out of Leicester, but you cannot take away the things we did for the club, if the club are here now, it’s because of us, all these players who won the league.
“When you go there with another team, and the fans boo you, you are a bit disappointed. It’s just a few people, I know most of them are grateful for what we’ve done for the club, so it’s fine.
“People might think he forced to leave, I didn’t force, I just wanted to leave and it was difficult. That’s the explanation of this.”
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Riyad Mahrez celebrates 100 caps for Algeria
Fast forward to 2025 and Mahrez is now in the twilight of his career.
After completing a move to Saudi Pro League side Al Ahli in 2023, the 33-year-old has been enjoying the final years of his career.
He still represents Algeria on the international stage and recently earned his 100th cap as captain of his country.
Starting in the fixture against Botswana on 21 March, it’s another brilliant achievement to his already-excellent career.