Leicester deny player-power: Mahrez saga

LEICESTER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 20: Riyad Mahrez of Leicester City celebrates scoring his side's second goal during the Premier League match between Leicester City and Watford at The King Power Stadium on January 20, 2018 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
LEICESTER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 20: Riyad Mahrez of Leicester City celebrates scoring his side's second goal during the Premier League match between Leicester City and Watford at The King Power Stadium on January 20, 2018 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
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LEICESTER, ENGLAND – MAY 05: Anthony Knockaert, Chris Wood, Luke Moore and Riyad Mahrez of Leicester City look on, as they ride in an open top bus through the city centre during a victory parade in honour of the football club winning the SkyBet Championship League trophy on May 5, 2014 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
LEICESTER, ENGLAND – MAY 05: Anthony Knockaert, Chris Wood, Luke Moore and Riyad Mahrez of Leicester City look on, as they ride in an open top bus through the city centre during a victory parade in honour of the football club winning the SkyBet Championship League trophy on May 5, 2014 in Leicester, England. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)

Current Scenario

Leicester City Football Club are building a footballing dynasty under the Srivaddhanaprabha leadership. Their influence, funding and guidance should never go unspoken with regards to the Foxes success. Not everyone agrees with their tight-lipped methods, nevertheless one cannot argue with their results.

The Midlands club were languishing in the third tier of English football when the Thai’s bought it. Since then they have won the Championship and the Premier League. Not to mention reaching in the Champions League Quarter Finals in 2017.

Mahrez played a vital role in becoming Championship victors and surviving the Premiership, noted as the “Great Escape”. He ultimately became a world-star when Leicester won the Premier League the following season in 2016. Being named PFA Player of the Year in the process.

In summer 2016 Mahrez – like so many of his squad-mates – signed a lucrative four-year-contract. There were transfer rumours surrounding him, as there are constantly for all elite players. He stayed and was comfortingly joined by Algerian compatriot Islam Slimani.

Leicester started badly in the league, continuing until January 2017 when the fairytale-spell was broken. Claudio Ranieri was sacked 11 months after a miraculous accomplishment. Albeit Leicester were 17th at the time of his dismissal. Assistant manager Craig Shakespeare was promoted: he promptly kept them up.