Reports in France over the weekend claimed Mahrez, who scored a stunning goal in City’s victory over Celtic in the International Champions Cup, was close to agreeing a £43m move to Arsenal.
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Riyad Mahrez had put Leicester ahead with a superb goal only for Eoghan O’Connell to curl in from 25 yards.
Last season’s PFA Player of the Year Riyad Mahrez grabbed the opener for Claudio Ranieri’s Leicester in the opening minute of the second half with a wonderful individual goal.
Callum McGregor says Celtic’s friendly against Leicester is the flawless way to prepare for their Champions League qualifier.
Leicester – who named three new signings in their starting XI – will be desperate to keep Mahrez at the King Power Stadium.
The Foxes now head to the United States for a game in the same competition against French Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain in California on July 31, before taking on Barcelona in Sweden on August 3.
Brendan Rodgers – who had been linked with Blackburn Rovers and Republic of Ireland Shane Duffy centre half as well as Heerenveen player Jerry St. Juste – failed to strengthen his squad before the European signing deadline on Thursday night and is painfully short of options at the back as a effect.
“Teams in that sort of area are getting better and obviously they proved that previous year by getting to the Champions League”. The teams’ preseasons already are in full swing, but their preparations will reach a higher level with the prestigious exhibition game. The mentality we have tried to create is a winning one. I bought him to Liverpool and he did great, he looks after himself and is in good condition.
Celtic are certainly well off for players who can be fielded in more advanced positions with Stuart Armstrong, Ryan Christie, Nadir Ciftci, Moussa Dembele, James Forrest, Leigh Griffiths, McGregor, Patrick Roberts and Tom Rogic all vying for selection.
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“We are training hard and the manager is trying to get his style of play over to the players”.
