While Riyad Mahrez might be one of Manchester City’s best players these days, his path to this level hasn’t been an easy one.
The Algeria international did it the hard way, having to prove himself every step of the way in a career that saw him start with AAA Sarcelles before moving to Quimper FC in 2009 for one season where he featured alongside Mathias Pogba, the brother of the Manchester United midfielder.
He then moved onto Le Havre for four years before heading to Leicester in the Championship, which ultimately led to his £61m transfer to Manchester City almost four years ago.
Mathias Pogba was asked about his season at Quimper with the now 31-year-old star, who has 22 goals and seven assists in 36 games for Pep Guardiola’s side this season.
He told So Foot: “Riyad was already the dribbler he is today. Where he has improved is tactically, mentally and in his stats. All the dribbling you see today, ‘la spéciale’, that’s not new to me. He said to me: ‘Mathias, you’ll see one day, I will become a great player.’
“I lived with him in Quimper, we were roommates. We met there, he’s from Paris, so we understand each other. I went to see him in Le Havre, in Leicester when they were in the second-tier… I’m still in touch with him.”
Down his end, Pogba, who is also 31, now plays for ASM Belfort in National 2 in France following recent stints at Tabor Sezana in Slovenia and Racing Murcia in Spain.
