Mahrez pens new Leicester deal until 2020
Reigning PFA Player of the Year Riyad Mahrez has spurned alleged interest from many European clubs by agreeing to a new four-year contract with Leicester City.
The news comes hours after the Algerian winger confessed he would be interested in leaving the east Midlands for "two or three clubs," but Wednesday's agreement should silence any further talk of the 25-year-old seeking new pastures - for now.
Mahrez's 17 goals and 11 assists last season were pivotal in leading Leicester to one of the biggest shocks in English football history when it strolled to the Premier League summit. And, with the exception of N'Golo Kante's switch to Chelsea, manager Claudio Ranieri has done a commendable job of keeping much of that winning throng together.
Mahrez's rise is quite remarkable since spending his youth growing up in the rough Parisian suburb of Sarcelles. After showing his fleet-footed forays down the left flank at minnow Quimper he caught the attentions of Le Havre, but was surprisingly unappreciated at this famed breeding ground of French talent. He was then allowed to move to Leicester after club assistant Steve Walsh spotted him while scouting another player.
Related - Mahrez: From non-league reject to Player of the Year front-runner
Through a tough training regime, the slight Mahrez acclimatised to the demands of the English game, and began showing glimpses of his talent under Nigel Pearson. It was following Ranieri's appointment last summer, however, that he blossomed.
"He immediately took me under his wing and gave me a lot of confidence," Mahrez told France Football. "And he has brought me to be more rigorous with my game. The result of that: last year, I defended like a crazy person.
"He made me understand that if one of us did not defend, we were dead. With him, I also timed better the moments where one needs to press, when one needs to peel off, things like that."
Switched my phone back on to the news that @Mahrez22 has signed a new 4 year contract with @LCFC . You little beauty!
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) August 17, 2016
His exploits on the way to becoming an English champion caught the attention of many in the global game. Barcelona legend Xavi tipped him as an ideal fit at the Catalonian giant, fans got unnecessarily excited when he was recently photographed staying in the same hotel as Chelsea, and rumours of a lucrative transfer to Arsenal endured until Wednesday's inking of fresh terms.
He follows 2015-16 Premier League Golden Boot runner-up Jamie Vardy, goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, captain Wes Morgan, and fan favourite Andy King in committing his immediate future to the Foxes.
Leicester's defence of its crown began in sobering fashion with last weekend's 2-1 loss at newly promoted Hull City, and it will hope to improve its fortunes Saturday against Arsenal at the King Power Stadium.