Arsenal were dealt a further blow to their hopes of signing Leicester City star Riyad Mahrez after the PFA Fans Player of the Year revealed that he wants to stay at the club and would only consider a move to Real Madrid or Barcelona.
The Gunners reportedly recently made a £35 million move for the Algerian international according to the Sun.
Mahrez did not actually mention Real Madrid or Barcelona but he did imply the two La Liga giants according to the Daily Mirror.
The Algerian international actually said that there are only two or three clubs in the world that could tempt him to leave Real Madrid.
If two of the clubs he if referring to are indeed Real Madrid and Barcelona it leaves the question of who the third club are.
“When there is a Brazilian who is lighting things up, he is at Real Madrid before you know it! For us, it is a little harder, we have to do more,’ he said. ‘It (the Premier League) is a super league and I would like to stay here as long as possible. But now there are two or three clubs in the world that if they come for me it definitely makes you think, if you understand what I am trying to say,” Mahrez was quoted as saying.
Mahrez had an impressive season scoring 17 times and setting up 11 assists for the Foxes who won their first Premier League trophy in their 132-year history.
Follow Emre Sarigul @Turkish_Futbol