‘It was my dream to play for Marseille’ – Riyad Mahrez declares love for OM | OneFootball

Former Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez (34) has once again expressed his long-standing love for Olympique de Marseille, admitting to L’Équipe that turning out at the Vélodrome in Ligue 1 was his childhood dream.

Now 34 and playing in Saudi Arabia for Al-Ahli, the Algeria captain reflected on what might have been when asked which club he’d have liked to play for during his European career. “Since I was little, I always wanted to play at Marseille. That was my dream. I was a big OM fan – Drogba, Niang, Nasri, Ribéry… I dreamed of playing at the Vélodrome in Ligue 1. My path ended up being very different.”The former Leicester City Premier League winner could have joined Marseille twice during his career. At 18, while playing for Quimper in the French fourth tier, Mahrez impressed during a trial with Marseille’s reserves. José Anigo, then sporting director, was reportedly keen to sign him – before ultimately opting for Billel Omrani instead.

Later, in early 2014, the Algerian was again offered to OM while starring at Leicester City in the Championship. However, club president Vincent Labrune is said to have turned down the move, judging Mahrez to be an ill fit for Marseille’s “project.” Just over a year later, Mahrez would lift the Premier League title and be named PFA Player of the Year.GFFN | George Boxall