Riyad Mahrez has once again left Leicester City fans stunned after admitting that he holds a “big regret” from his time at the King Power Stadium — despite being adored by supporters and cementing his name in the club’s history books.
The Algerian winger, who was one of the driving forces behind Leicester’s remarkable Premier League title triumph in 2016, recently reflected on his time at the club during a podcast appearance.
Mahrez, now playing for Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia, admitted that while he loved his time in England, there was one thing he wished he had handled differently.
“I regret the way I left Leicester,” Mahrez confessed.
“It was a difficult time for me, but I could have done things better. The club gave me everything — a platform, belief, and the opportunity to show what I could do. But when I wanted to leave, maybe I didn’t handle it the right way.”
That admission has drawn mixed reactions from Foxes fans, many of whom still remember how the once-beloved winger forced a move away in 2018 by skipping training and submitting multiple transfer requests after a failed switch to Manchester City in January of that year.
Mahrez eventually joined City in a £60 million deal six months later, going on to win multiple Premier League titles, FA Cups, and a Champions League medal under Pep Guardiola. Yet, for many Leicester supporters, the manner of his exit tarnished the fairy-tale legacy he built alongside Jamie Vardy, N’Golo Kanté, and the late Claudio Ranieri.
Some fans have called his comments “too little, too late,” while others see his regret as a genuine moment of reflection. One supporter wrote online, “We’ll always love what he did for us, but it’s hard to forget how he forced his way out.” Another added, “He was magical for Leicester, but you don’t treat a club that made you like that.”
Despite the controversy, Mahrez still speaks highly of Leicester City and the special atmosphere that defined that incredible 2015/16 season.
“It was the best time of my career — we were like a family. Nobody believed in us, but we did it together. Leicester will always be in my heart,” Mahrez said.
However, his latest comments come at a sensitive time for Foxes fans, with the club struggling to rediscover its identity in the aftermath of relegation and the departures of other key figures. Many feel his words, while honest, reopen old wounds for a fanbase that once viewed him as royalty.
Riyad Mahrez’s journey from a £400,000 signing from Le Havre to Premier League champion and global star remains one of football’s greatest success stories. But as his latest reflection shows, even the brightest chapters in football history can carry regrets — and Leicester fans will forever remember both the magic he created and the heartbreak he left behind.