Riyad Mahrez may no longer wear the Manchester City shirt, but his legacy at the club continues to shape the future.
The former City winger played a behind-the-scenes role in convincing fellow Algerian Ryan Ait Nouri to join the Premier League champions this summer.
Manchester City officially confirmed the signing of Ait Nouri from Wolverhampton on Monday. The 23-year-old defender penned a five-year deal, keeping him at the Etihad Stadium until 2030.
Reports suggest the deal cost City €37 million, with an additional €6 million in potential add-ons.
While negotiations happened at the top, Ait Nouri’s mind was swayed through a few key conversations, one of them with Mahrez, a player he shares the Algeria national team camp with.
“Mateus and I were always together when we were at Wolverhampton. I’m very excited to play with him again,” Ait Nouri told the club’s official website.
“I also spoke to Riyad (Mahrez), I’m with him in the national team, and he told me the same thing Mateus told me, he told me about the city, he told me to give everything for this club, and I will try to follow in his footsteps”
