Riyad Mahrez responds to Man City transfer exit reports

Riyad Mahrez has played down reports that he could leave Manchester City this summer, saying a transfer exit is not in his thinking at present.

After City's end to the season, Mahrez is with Algeria for the final fixtures of 2022/23, but has been linked with an exit this summer after losing his place in Pep Guardiola's first-choice lineup.

Mahrez was on the bench for the FA Cup and Champions League finals, and was also overlooked in the quarter-finals and semi-finals in Europe. His FA Cup semi-final hat-trick against Sheffield United was a reminder of his quality, but he only started nine of the last 18 games of the campaign, including the three league games after the title was secured.

That has prompted reports that the 32-year-old could leave this summer in search of more regular football, with clubs from Saudi Arabia linked with his signing. Mahrez, however, insists that he is not thinking of a transfer at the moment.

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Speaking on international duty, Mahrez told Algerian media: “I have two years left in Manchester. So far there is nothing. I am concentrating on these two games [for Algeria] and then I will go on vacation."

Guardiola said after that FA Cup semi-final that he had 'lost the battle' in persuading Mahrez that he was an important member of his team, despite his obvious big game qualities. Mahrez had lost his place to Bernardo against Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Real Madrid, United and Inter, but Bernardo too is linked with a move away which could open up more playing time next season for Mahrez.

The Algerian has two years left on his contract, although City will be aware they could lose Mahrez for