Transfer News: Real Madrid were split on Riyad Mahrez before Chelsea and Barcelona link

REAL MADRID boss Zinedine Zidane reportedly wanted to sign Leicester star Riyad Mahrez before Barcelona’s interest in the Leicester star.

Mahrez’s whereabouts are currently unknown with the player being linked with moves in and outside of England.

Express Sport understands Chelsea are set to sign the Algeria international despite the player being pressured to join Arsenal, in a move that would see him become Antonio Conte's fifth signing of the summer.

However, Spanish outlet Diario Gol say Mahrez was wanted at Real Madrid by Zinedine Zidane.

But club president Florentino Perez discarded his signing despite losing attacking starlets Alvaro Morata and James Rodriguez.

Transfer News: Real Madrid were split over signing Leicester star Riyad Mahrez

Perez is known to favour Galatic names - as proven for deals for the likes of Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo, Luis Figo and Zinedine Zidane over the years.

And it seems Mahrez, at Craig Shakespeare’s Leicester, did not fit the bill.

Diario Gol add that the Foxes forward has also been offered to Barcelona.

Yet the Catalan giants are still holding out hope of signing Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho.

Real Madrid Barcelona Riyad Mahrez Transfer NewsGETTY

Transfer News: Real Madrid were split on signing Leicester star Riyad Mahrez

Should Mahrez end up staying at the King Power Stadium - which seems unlikely - then Barcelona may make a £46million bid.

But their current plan B is Paris Saint-Germain’s Angel Di Maria.

The Argentina international spent four years in La Liga with Barcelona’s fierce rivals Real Madrid.

However, despite that, he could still make the move to the Nou Camp.

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