Riyad Mahrez has opened up about his long-held dream of playing alongside football legend Lionel Messi at Barcelona.
The former Manchester City winger disclosed that during his time at Leicester City, he was involved in high-level transfer discussions with some of Europe's most prestigious clubs. These included not only Barcelona but also rivals Real Madrid and Manchester United.
These talks occurred before his eventual move to Manchester City, suggesting a significant level of interest from multiple elite clubs in his abilities.
However, the ambitious transfer to Camp Nou, or any of the other discussed destinations, ultimately did not materialize. The primary obstacles were cited as Leicester City's substantial transfer fee demands and Mahrez's own strategic decision not to incorporate a release clause into his contract.
Mahrez drew a parallel to his former teammate N'Golo Kante, whose transfer to Chelsea was facilitated by a release clause that made the move more straightforward for the buying club.
This lack of a release clause, coupled with Leicester's valuation, proved to be a significant barrier to his desired move.
Despite the disappointment of not fulfilling his dream of playing with Messi at Barcelona, Mahrez went on to have a remarkably successful career at Manchester City.
During his tenure with the Citizens, he amassed a considerable collection of trophies, including the coveted Champions League title, before eventually making a move to the Saudi Pro League.
