Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez has admitted that he was close to joining Arsenal in 2016.
The 28-year-old was influential in helping Leicester City to win the Premier League title in the 2015/16 season and he was ready to move that summer.
Arsenal were the frontrunners for his signature but he ended up staying until the summer of 2018 before moving to City.
As quoted on France Football, Mahrez said:
After the title, if I’d left for a top team, it wouldn’t have been the same story. For me, it’s clear that I lost two years at the highest level. Leicester blocked me. They told me: ‘You’re not leaving, you’re not leaving’.
My agent had spoken to Wenger who really wanted me. It was nearly all done with Arsenal in 2016. I was really frustrated. It wasn’t easy to go from being the best player in the Premier League to being a part of a team fighting against relegation. It’s not the same job. Everyone is waiting for you around the corner.
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Signing Mahrez when he was at his peak would certainly have improved Arsenal’s chances at winning more silverware.
The Algerian was almost unstoppable during Leicester’s title-winning season and it was clear that he wanted to move.
Maybe the Gunners could have offered more to secure his services but it certainly was a big opportunity missed. Add his name to the long list of players who Arsenal could have signed.
