Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola said Saudi Arabia has completely changed the transfer market following Riyad Mahrez’s move to the Middle East.
The Spaniard has declared that Mahrez’s replacement will not be a like-for-like one for the team.
Mahrez joined the growing list of well-known players who have moved to the Middle Eastern nation this summer. When he signed a £30 million agreement to leave City and join Saudi Arabian club Al-Ahli.
According to Irish Examiner, Guardiola remarked during a press conference held during City’s preseason tour of South Korea: “We are not looking for a replacement of Riyad in terms of skill because every player is different.
“We will see what happens with loan players, and which players stay here. A few things are going to happen.
“Saudi Arabia has changed the market. A few months ago when Cristiano (Ronaldo) was the only one to go, no one thought this many top, top players would play in the Saudi league.
“In the future there will be more and that’s why clubs need to be aware of what is happening. Riyad got an incredible offer and that’s why we could not say don’t do it.”
Following Ilkay Gundogan’s move from City this summer, Mahrez became the latest player to leave the team. Mateo Kovacic, a midfielder, is their sole acquisition to yet.
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