Mahrez’s magical story

Riyad Mahrez has been confirmed as the PFA Player of the Year for his brilliant performances with Leicester City in their unlikely title tilt. Earlier this month, Pat Davison caught up with him to discuss the stunning story of the street footballer turned award winner…

We were in a corporate box overlooking the King Power pitch and the interview had run a little long, but Riyad Mahrez was in no rush to get off.

In fact, the first thing he did once we’d finished was stand up, walk to the window and stare out at the pitch beneath him.

After a few seconds just staring, and without taking his eyes off the grass, he said: “It looks awesome, don’t you think?”

It’s a little off-camera story which backs up something which had become abundantly clear during the half hour we spent with him: he loves playing football. Absolutely loves it.

Whether he’s playing on the street with friends or on a freshly-cut Premier League pitch. No matter if it’s at an empty gym he’s crept into at 1am or a stadium full of fired-up Leicester fans.

He just wants to play. Has done since he was five.

At that age, he can remember going to sign for a club in Sarcelles, the Paris suburb where he grew up. He describes the area as “a dangerous ghetto”, but it was here where the magical player who has lit up the Premier League this season began to emerge.

“I was a street footballer,” says the 25-year-old, whose unpredictable brilliance doesn’t look like it comes from any coaching manual.

“Every day I was on the street …

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