Manchester City star Riyad Mahrez has spoken about the bittersweet moments of his career, reflecting on his time with Leicester City where he went from being a title-winning hero to being blocked from joining Arsenal. In a candid conversation, Mahrez expressed his frustration over the missed opportunity and the challenges of transitioning from a league star to a relegation battler. With two of his former clubs facing off this weekend, the Algerian's journey will be on full display.
Riyad Mahrez's Arsenal Move Saga: Bittersweet Moments and Unfulfilled Dreams
Manchester City star Riyad Mahrez has opened up about his bittersweet journey in football, including his time at Leicester City and his missed opportunity to join Arsenal.
Leicester City Triumph and Arsenal Snub
Mahrez rose to prominence with Leicester City, helping the Foxes achieve their historic Premier League title triumph in 2016. However, his time at the club ended on a bitter note when a proposed move to Arsenal in January 2018 fell through.
Mahrez has since admitted his frustration over the failed transfer. In a recent interview, he said, "I was very disappointed. I thought I was going to Arsenal and I was very eager to sign for them but unfortunately it didn't happen in the end."
Transition to Relegation Fight
After the Arsenal move collapsed, Mahrez returned to Leicester City and helped the club avoid relegation. However, the following season, the Foxes struggled and were relegated to the Championship. Mahrez found this transition particularly challenging, saying, "I think the most difficult part was going from being a title winner with Leicester to being in the relegation zone. It was a very difficult period for me."
Manchester City Redemption
In 2018, Mahrez joined Manchester City, where he has won several more trophies, including two Premier League titles. Reflecting on his time at City, he said, "I'm really happy with my time here. I've won a lot of trophies, I've played with some great players, and I think I've improved a lot as a player."
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As India faced a tough challenge in the ongoing MCG Test against Australia, wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant's dismissal sparked a heated discussion between former cricketers Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri. While Gavaskar criticized Pant's shot selection, Shastri defended the young player, citing the difficulty of the deliveries he faced. Fans can now stay updated on all the latest news and updates from the India-Australia Test series through a WhatsApp group.
India made a strong comeback on Day 4 against Australia in the 4th Test with brilliant performances from Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar. Despite a tough start, India managed to put a decent total of 358/9 on the scoreboard, with a crucial partnership between Nitish and Sundar. Earlier, Yashasvi Jaiswal's contribution of 82 runs helped India recover from a difficult position. On the other hand, Australia's Steven Smith scored a century with support from half-centuries from Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, and Usman Khawaja. The series is currently tied 1-1 and this test will determine the winner between the two teams.
Marnus Labuschagne, with a score of 70, and captain Pat Cummins, with a score of 57, played a crucial role in reviving Australia's second innings in the fourth Test against India. The two batsmen helped weather the storm of Jasprit Bumrah's bowling and brought hope to their team's chances of winning the match.
On day four of the fourth cricket Test match between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Australian skipper Pat Cummins was left puzzled after a contentious umpire decision allowed Indian batsman Mohammed Siraj to continue batting. Despite a clear edge being caught by second slip Steve Smith, third umpire Sharfuddoula Saikat ruled Siraj not out, calling for closer scrutiny and sparking criticism from former cricketers Adam Gilchrist and Ravi Shastri. Although India's innings ended at 369, with Nathan Lyon dismissing centurion Nitish Kumar Reddy for 114, Australia held a first-innings lead of 105 runs.
In a press conference, Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley praised young cricketer Sam Konstas for his impressive performance in the Prime Minister's XI game against India. Konstas, who was added to the Australian squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, showcased his talent and confidence as he opened for Australia and played an entertaining knock. The 19-year-old has been a key player in Australia's recent victories, including their U19 World Cup win in 2024 and the warm-up game against India where he scored a classy 107 off just 97 balls. The selectors, as well as the Australian fans, are delighted with Konstas' inclusion in the team.
In the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Rishabh Pant earned India the eighth wicket in the second Australian innings with a brilliant throw at the non-striker's end, dismissing Mitchell Starc for 5 (13). This crucial moment may boost Pant's confidence, as he has faced criticism and struggled in the series so far. With Australia reduced to 156-8, the match hangs in the balance and India will need to apply themselves to chase a record total in the fourth innings at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
During the ongoing Boxing Day Test between India and Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Indian bowler Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Australian batsman Travis Head for the second time in the match. Commentator and former Australian opener Simon Katich couldn't contain his excitement and praised Bumrah's performance on air. Bumrah's dismissal of Head on his birthday added to the nightmare for the Australian left-hander, who was also dismissed for a duck by Bumrah in the first innings.
Wolves manager Vitor Pereira has warned Arsenal that they will face competition if they want to sign Brazilian forward Matheus Cunha in the upcoming January transfer window. Pereira, who has won both of his matches in charge, hopes to keep Cunha at the club for a long time but acknowledges that the 25-year-old may have opportunities elsewhere due to his impressive performance of scoring 10 Premier League goals this season. Additionally, Cunha's potential availability may be affected by Arsenal's uncertainty in their January transfer plans and the loss of injured player Bukayo Saka. Other Premier League clubs, such as Manchester United, are also rumored to be interested in the talented striker.
Rahmat Shah and Hashmatullah Shahidi create history with their unbeaten partnership and become the first pair to remain unbeaten throughout an entire day of play in a Test since 2018. This is also the highest stand for any wicket against Zimbabwe, breaking the record set in 2004. Additionally, it is the third instance of three Zimbabwe batters scoring a century in a Test innings. Afghanistan's Rahmat Shah and Hashmatullah Shahidi made history on day 3 of the first Test against Zimbabwe with an unbeaten partnership and a record-breaking performance. Their stand of 361* runs is not only the highest for Afghanistan in Tests, but also the second-highest against Zimbabwe. The day also saw three Zimbabwe batsmen scoring centuries, making it the third instance in their history.