Leicester don't know when they will see Riyad Mahrez again following their refusal to OK Manchester City move
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Riyad Mahrez will be missing again when Leicester host Swansea in the Premier League.
The 2016 PFA Player of the Year went AWOL on Tuesday, after the Foxes ­refused to sell him to Manchester City.
The club insist they would have let the 26-year-old go if the league leaders had coughed up £80million cash.
But the King Power Stadium owners dug their heels in as Man City refused to meet their terms, which has left Mahrez claiming to be “depressed”.
(Image: Action Images via Reuters)
(Image: Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty)
Manager Claude Puel admits it is a “difficult situation” and could not confirm when Mahrez would be ­returning to the club — with Leicester ironically away to Man City next ­Saturday.
Puel was even unable to say if he had spoken with Mahrez after four days absent as medics, HR and lawyers are now set to get involved over the star’s state of mind.
Before Saturday's visit from the Swans, he confirmed: “Riyad will not be available for this game.
“We will assess him when he has cleared his head.
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“It is a tough situation for us to manage. I ­understand the ­disappointment when it was a good ­opportunity for him.
“I think Riyad after some time will come back with us. It is a situation ­between the club, myself and the player to manage calmly. The first priority is for him to find the good feeling again and enjoy his football.”
Mahrez first failed to report for ­training on Tuesday with no ­explanation which stunned team-mates and officials.
It plunged Leicester’s preparations for their 2-1 loss at Everton on ­Wednesday into chaos as Mahrez was in Puel’s line-up and the training ground was said to be “madness”.
But Puel insists he and City’s stars are willing to welcome Mahrez back into the fold in due course.
The Frenchman added: “Riyad is a good player, but he is good man as well and I respect him. We will meet with his side and the club, and keep it between ­ourselves.
“His team-mates wait for Riyad to come back in the squad because he is a valuable player for us, a decisive, clinical player and is ­always their friend.
“I hope he can come back happy and find a smile with his team-mates.”
Mahrez, who has eight Premier League goals and seven assists this season, could face a club fine of two weeks’ wages worth £200,000 if found guilty of going AWOL.
Leicester insist their £80m valuation of the player, who has two-and-a-half years left on his contract, was fair was fair in a window that saw Liverpool pay £75m for Virgil van Dijk and Barcelona splash £145m on Philippe Coutinho.