Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has pulled the plug on his pursuit of Riyad Mahrez after being put off by the way the creator has reacted to missing out on a January move, claims The Daily Mirror.
Guardiola’s side launched a stunning move for Mahrez in the last two days of the January transfer window but refused to match Leicester’s £95m valuation leaving the Algeria international future in limbo.
Mahrez was devastated about missing out on a move to the Premier League leaders and still hasn’t returned to training as Leicester cautiously look to re-integrate the 26-year-old into the squad.
Guardiola was open to the idea of a summer move for the Leicester star but is now ready to look elsewhere after being left far from impressed with the way Mahrez has handled the fallout.
Leicester play City this weekend but Claude Puel will not be able to count on Mahrez for the third game in a row as he still hasn’t returned to training since failing to force through a move to Guardiola’s side.
The Foxes are winless in the two matches Mahrez has missed so far and Puel’s side are unsure when the former PFA Player of the Year will return to training after sanctioning an extended break.
It comes as a huge blow for Leicester, as Mahrez has played a direct hand in more of their Premier League goals than any other player so far this season (15).
