Riyad Mahrez (Getty Images)
As per Manchester Evening News, Real Madrid have started initial talks with Riyad Mahrez over a transfer with Gareth Bale heading for an exit (source – BBC). Talks are still in the preliminary stages and it doesn’t look like a transfer that might happen, with a lot of factors in play.
Riyad Mahrez is a 29-year-old Algerian winger who plays for Manchester City. He started his youth career at AAS Sarcelles in 2004 and stayed there for 5 years. His senior career began at FC Quimper and moved to Le Havre.
In 2013, he moved to Leicester City and helped them achieve promotion. However, his crowning moment came in 2016 when Leicester defied all odds to win the league. He made a total of 179 appearances for the club before departing for Manchester City in 2018.
Another Premier League title followed as Mahrez kept chipping away with goals and assists despite getting limited chances. In 95 appearances for City, he has 25 goals and 28 assists (source – Transfermarkt). He is also an established member of the Algeria national team with 57 games and 15 goals.
Over the last few years, Real Madrid have been stockpiling some of the best young and talented players on the planet. They have slowly shifted from their Galactico strategy but we did get to see glimpses of that when they brought in the likes of Eden Hazard, Luka Jovic, Ferland Mendy, etc.
With Mahrez being a right-winger, it makes no logical sense for Madrid to bring in the Algerian, especially with Asensio back to fitness and Rodrygo waiting in the wings to take his opportunity. Lucas Vazquez is just below them too and is a quality option to have.
Apart from that Mahrez wouldn’t likely come cheap, given his form, quality and time left on his contract.
Marco Asensio and Rodrygo are two of the brightest talents at Real Madrid. Bringing in direct competition in an already stacked position makes little sense. This is not to say Mahrez doesn’t have the quality to play for a juggernaut like Real Madrid but it’s just that this transfer is hard to argue for.
Both the above-mentioned youngsters need regular game time and an established player like Mahrez would only hamper their progress. So Real Madrid can do without the services of Riyad Mahrez.