Manchester City attacker Riyad Mahrez has been in and out of Pep Guardiola’s side since he arrived from Leicester in July 2018. The Algerian arrived for a fee of £61m according to Transfermarkt.co.uk, but up until now, it appears he has failed to convince the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss that he should be one of the first names on the team-sheet.
Whilst the 28-year-old has featured in 26 matches so far this season, it has not always been plain sailing. Mahrez has featured 70 times in total since joining, but he has had to play some-what a bit-part role for the Spaniard as he has had some lengthy spells on the bench.
However, these City fans believe the player to be extremely under-rated and feel he is worthy of more Premier League starts after seeing a tweet by Priceless Silva suggesting the same thing.
Is Riyad Mahrez underrated?
Yes
No
Our wide players are there for the moments, it’s what makes them, but to do it in Guardiola system isn’t as easy as the haters will have you believe. I think Mahrez has adapted well and is now creating moments regularly
— STEVEN ROBINSON (@ROBBO131280) January 5, 2020
very underrated
— Boobstronaut ? (@GoonDenoso) January 5, 2020
spot on
— joe (@joeemcfc_) January 5, 2020
i knew he’d come good just needed time, it was similar with bernardo when he first came now look at him
— charlie (@bernardoszn) January 5, 2020
A lot of people just made their minds up after the Anfield pen
— Trophyless Szn ????©? (@Silva_Lining_) January 5, 2020
Plus he only started starting consecutively recently
— Chidubem ezugwu? (@Chidubem24) January 5, 2020
What do we think?
Since his arrival, Riyad Mahrez has scored 18 goals and provided 24 assists in 70 appearances for the club. The fact he’s been in and out of the side at times will have no doubt affected his rhythm and you cannot help but feel if he was playing more regularly those statistics would be even more impressive.
The 28-year-old captained his international side to the African Cup of Nations in the summer and will certainly believe he is good enough to play every week, but the fact he’s only started 52% of City’s Premier League games this season perhaps tells a story about just how strong Guardiola’s squad is rather than it being a poor reflection of the player.