Mahrez without offers and free: Turkish and Emirati paths evaporate

Riyad Mahrez is still without a club and, contrary to what has been reported in recent days, no concrete offer has been submitted to him. Neither Çorum FK in Turkey nor Al-Wahda in the United Arab Emirates have made any proposal to the former Manchester City winger, according to information from Foot Mercato.

Since the end of his contract with Al-Ahli this summer, the name of the Algerian international has circulated on several markets. The promoted Turkish side Çorum FK, which has just signed Çengiz Ünder and is displaying big ambitions in the Süper Lig, had been presented as a serious contender, with a significant financial offer in the offing. An arrival at Al-Wahda had also been mentioned. Both of these leads now appear to be without foundation.

Mahrez is therefore approaching the next phase of his career in an unusual situation for a player of his calibre. His three seasons in Saudi Arabia were nonetheless very productive: in 122 matches with Al-Ahli, he scored 37 goals and provided 46 assists. His age — he will turn 35 in February — and his salary demands, however, constitute a barrier for many clubs.

His situation inevitably revives an old anecdote from the French transfer market. In 2015, while playing for Leicester, Mahrez publicly declared his attachment to Olympique de Marseille: “My heart’s team? Before it was OM, I always dreamed of Marseille.” His agent had even approached the Phocaean club, whose president at the time, Vincent Labrune, had dismissed the idea by questioning the legitimacy of a Leicester player fitting into the Marseille project.

What followed largely contradicted this judgment: Premier League champion with Leicester, named Premier League Player of the Year, then four more league titles and a Ligue des Champions with Manchester City. Mahrez himself had acknowledged that once established in the Premier League, the idea of joining Marseille no longer really came up.

Today, nothing suggests that OM is considering signing the Algerian, nor that the club has the means necessary to convince him to accept a significant financial sacrifice. The question of his next destination remains open.