Riyad Mahrez offered to Botafogo and São Paulo amid salary concerns

Riyad Mahrez has reportedly been offered to Brazilian clubs Botafogo and São Paulo, but the Algerian winger’s salary demands have prevented talks from progressing.

Mahrez has been without a club since leaving Al Ahli and is now available as a free agent. His current status means he can join a new team outside the usual transfer window, provided the club is able to reach an agreement with him.

According to reports from Brazil, the former Manchester City player has been presented to several clubs in the country’s top division in recent weeks.

Botafogo are believed to have considered the possibility of signing the Algeria international. However, the financial requirements involved in the deal quickly became a major obstacle.

São Paulo have also reportedly held contact with Mahrez’s representatives. Those discussions, however, did not develop further after the Brazilian club assessed the player’s wage demands as too high.

The exact figure requested by Mahrez has not been made public. Brazilian media reports have nevertheless pointed to the financial challenge involved in signing a player with extensive experience at the highest level of European football.

Mahrez’s salary expectations are understood to be the main reason why neither Botafogo nor São Paulo have taken the negotiations further.

The 34 year old has built a career in Europe and has represented clubs including Le Havre, Leicester City, Manchester City and Al Ahli. His time at Leicester saw him play a key role in the club’s historic Premier League title success, before he later moved to Manchester City.

His free agent status has made him an option for clubs looking to add an experienced attacking player without paying a transfer fee. However, the financial terms of a possible contract remain a significant issue.

Reports from Brazil also refer to Mahrez’s previous salary expectations during discussions with Saudi clubs. He was reportedly seeking an annual wage of around €10 million at that stage, although his precise current demands have not been disclosed.

For now, interest from Botafogo and São Paulo has not resulted in an agreement. Mahrez remains available, but any move to Brazil will depend largely on whether a club can meet his financial expectations.

The Algerian international will therefore continue to wait for a suitable offer as Brazilian clubs weigh the sporting benefits of signing him against the cost of completing the deal.