London: Riyad Mahrez’s agent Kamel Bengougam has thrown the Leicester City winger’s future in doubt by saying there is a “50/50 chance” the Algerian could leave the King Power Stadium amid reported interest from Spanish champions Barcelona.
Mahrez, 25, has been one of the club’s standout performers as his 17 Premier League goals and 11 assists earned him the PFA Player of the Year award and helped his side claim the English league title for the first time.
“When you have been playing the way Riyad has this season it is bound to attract attention. He is very happy with Leicester and of course it has been a fantastic season,” Bengougam told British media.
“They will play in the Champions League next year as well so he would be happy to stay. But at his age if the opportunity comes to play for a big team then we would have to think about it. I’d say it’s 50/50 at the moment whether he stays or goes.
“We have interest from the UK and overseas.” Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, Leicester’s vice-chairman, said earlier this week that the club are determined keep hold of their keys players and manager Claudio Ranieri warned his payers in February that they could end up “carrying bags” at bigger clubs if they leave.
Leicester host 11th-placed Everton on Saturday, after which they will be presented with the Premier League trophy.
Everton manager Roberto Martinez said Thursday that Leicester City winning the Premier League this season was an “inspiration” to other clubs but warned against another ‘underdog’ champion any time soon.
“I think we need to be realistic that this is not the norm,” he said.
“It’s something we haven’t seen in the modern game and I don’t think that’s going to be repeated easily.”
Leicester beat Everton 3-2 at Goodison Park in December in the reverse fixture. They were leading the table at that point but Martinez was one of many football figures who thought their title challenge would evaporate.
“Looking at the teams that were competing against Leicester at that point, you felt it was still a long battle to go,” he said. “Looking at the incredible intensity Leicester were playing at, there was a question mark.
“They were in an unknown situation fighting for the title and you don’t know how the team is going to react and if they’re going to keep that intensity and I think that’s where it’s been a remarkable journey for Claudio Ranieri and his men to be able to maintain that intensity, that concentration and that togetherness.”
Leicester will have to do without defender Robert Huth on Saturday, after he and Marouane Fellaini were given three-match suspensions for violent conduct, England’s governing Football Association announced Thursday.
The pair were charged following their off-the-ball clash in Manchester United’s 1-1 draw with Premier League champions Leicester on Sunday.
Television cameras showed Huth pulling Fellaini’s hair, with the United midfielder responding by swinging an elbow into the German’s neck.
An FA statement said: “Both players accepted the charge, however, Huth contested (said) that the standard penalty of a three-match suspension would be ‘clearly excessive’.
“This claim, however, was rejected following an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing today (Thursday).”
Huth will also miss Leicester’s final match of the season against Chelsea as well as next term’s league opener.
Meanwhile, Fellaini will miss United’s final three league games, but the Belgian will be available for the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace.