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Riyad Mahrez's Leicester teammates tell fans not to question his commitment
Riyad Mahrez’s team-mates are urging Leicester City fans not to see parallels with Philippe Coutinho and Virgil van Dijk in the Algerian international’s intention to leave the club during the transfer window.
Neither Liverpool’s Coutinho nor Southampton’s Van Dijk has played in their respective teams’ opening Premier League matches after signalling their desire to move to bigger clubs, with question marks over their state of mind.
By contrast, Mahrez, who submitted a transfer request at the end of May, played a full part in Leicester’s vibrant performance in defeat at Arsenal and set up both goals as they comfortably saw off newcomers Brighton on Saturday – even though time is running out to secure a move.
It was from his partially saved shot that Shinji Okazaki put Leicester ahead inside the first minute and from his corner that the impressive Harry Maguire doubled their lead early in the second half.
Signed for £400,000 from Le Havre in 2014, Mahrez is now on the radar of some of Europe’s biggest clubs, but the last 10 days of the transfer window could pass in a stalemate, with Leicester reportedly asking £50 million for him.
Yet team-mates Matty James and Danny Simpson say fans should not be surprised he appears able to put all speculation out of his mind when he takes the field.
“We all know he is a good player – every team in the Premier League knows he is a good player now,” James said.
“He is also a really, really grounded lad. I think he remembers exactly where he came from. He has been very respectful. He might have his own ambitions but, ultimately, he is a Leicester City player. He has been fantastic in these last two games.
“As a player you know [speculation] is part and parcel of the game. All the lads want him here but, if he goes, he goes and, if he stays, he stays. He has done a lot for this club and you don’t want to ruin that relationship.”
Simpson echoed James in applauding Mahrez’s focus in putting uncertainty over his future to the back of his mind.
“Some people don’t,” he said. “He’s still a Leicester player and you still want him to perform. When he’s like he was today he’s unstoppable.” Craig Shakespeare, the Leicester manager, admitted he wondered how being at a potential crossroads in his career might affect the 26-year-old France-born player.
“When there’s all the speculation, it’s hard for players to get their heads round it,” he said. “For me, it should be quite easy. If you are asked to represent the football club that you are paid by, then you perform. But we all know there are different angles these days.
“From Riyad’s point of view, from day one when he made the statement, he’s come into training, worked hard, and we need that to continue.”