Fabrizio Romano confirms Saudi interest in Man City star as Citizens ‘want money’ to see him go
Fabrizio Romano has confirmed Saudi Arabian clubs “want Riyad Mahrez” but for Manchester City to see him go, any interested side will have to “pay money”.
Mahrez has been an important member of the City side for much of his time at the Etihad. Indeed, since joining from Leicester City in 2018, he’s played 236 games, scoring 78 goals and providing 59 assists.
In the Premier League for City, he’s made more than the 30 appearances he did this season on just one occasion. He scored five goals and provided 10 assists in those games this term, helping the Citizens to the league title.
The forward was also a fixture of the side in the Champions League. He played nine of the 13 games, scoring three goals and assisting a further two, as City won the competition for the first time in their history.
Amid his good campaign, Mahrez has become a target for Saudi side Al Ahli. They are apparently ready to offer him in the region of £85million for a two-year contract.
Transfer insider Romano has reinforced that the winger is a target for Saudi sides.
“We have reports of Saudi clubs and this is reality, they want Riyad Mahrez, but from what I get from Manchester City they want money,” he said on the Here We Go Podcast.
“It’s not that they say to Mahrez, ‘okay we won the Champions League, you can go,’ this is not the idea, so you have to pay money.”
It seems obvious that City would want to make money off Mahrez. Indeed, he’s a saleable asset, having had an impact on a lot of trophy wins in a City shirt over the past few years.
What’s more, he’s still got two years left on his contract, so it makes sense. Perhaps City are hoping that a Saudi side comes in with a huge offer, especially given the reports that he’ll be given a huge contract by Al Ahli if he’s to move there.
Romano did not suggest Pep Guardiola’s side wouldn’t be willing to sell, so if a big offer does come in, it seems there is a chance he could move on.