He’s been a big factor in Leicester’s success this season, but Riyad Mahrez could easily have spent this season away from the King Power Stadium.
The Algerian international has scored 10 league goals this season in just 14 appearances, including a hat-trick in the 3-0 win at Swansea.
But Mahrez, who arrived from French club Le Havre in January 2014, was reportedly turned down by Ligue 1 outfit Marseille last season.
France Football claims to have uncovered emails from Marseille president Vincent Labrune, in which he rejects a chance to sign the playmaker.
“Do you really think that Leicester players and Algerian internationals can now have a place at Marseille in the project of ours?” he is reported to have said.
“In short, in order to save time, let me tell you that we try to be professional and qualitative in terms of recruitment and therefore the probability that we will take this sort of player is zero.”
Now, as Mahrez is being linked with the likes of Barcelona and Manchester United, perhaps Labrune is regretting being so hasty.
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