Ranieri Wants Mahrez Stay

 

Claudio Ranieri says Riyad Mahrez risks ending up on the bench if he decides to leave Leicester this summer. On Saturday, reports in France claimed the Algeria winger had agreed to leave the Foxes and join Premier League rivals Arsenal ahead of the new season. 

Mahrez was named the 2015/16 PFA Player of the Year after playing a pivotal role in Leicester's remarkable rise from relegation candidates to Premier League champions last season.  Leicester and England forward Jamie Vardy turned down the chance to join Arsenal in June, deciding to sign a new four-year deal at the King Power Stadium instead.

Ranieri has urged Mahrez, who scored a stunning goal in Leicester's 1-1 International Champions Cup draw with Celtic at Celtic Park on Saturday evening, to follow Vardy's lead by staying at the club as he plots their title defence. 

Ranieri said “Did you see how Riyad is happy? He played so well, worked so hard for the team, he 
scored a goal and he stays with us, It is very important [to keep him] he is one of our stars. Other teams maybe have more stars and maybe he doesn't play at the same level, because maybe is on the bench so it is much better he stays with me. I am always confident. Of course, we know that there are other teams that want to win the Premier League, we our just to defend.”