Islam Slimani relishing chance to link up with Riyad Mahrez

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 02 September 2016

Islam Slimani claims that he watched Leicester City closely throughout last season, and was tempted into joining the club after chatting to close friend Riyad Mahrez.

New Leicester City recruit Islam Slimani has admitted that he could not turn down the chance to join international teammate Riyad Mahrez in the East Midlands.

The 28-year-old signed for the Foxes from Sporting Lisbon on deadline day in a deal worth £30m, making him the club's record signing.

Slimani's impressive scoring rate last season with Sporting, in which he found the net 27 times in 33 league games, led to numerous European heavyweights showing a reported interest.

Leicester won the race for the Algerian ace's signature, however, thanks in no small part to Mahrez, and Slimani is now desperate to get going this term as City aim to defend their Premier League crown.

"My dear friend Riyad Mahrez spoke to me lots of times about the club and how good a club it was," he told the champions' official website. "The idea of playing together [with Riyad] again is great for both of us, not only at a national team level but at a club level. That's great for our national team as well.

"I watched almost every game last year that Leicester played. As everyone knows, Leicester City are the Premier League champions - the champions of England. For me, it was a club where I could come and become an even better player and also contribute a lot to the defence of the title.

"Leicester City is without doubt the most supported club in Algeria now thanks to Riyad Mahrez and his participation at the club. [Winning the Premier League] was a big story and what it also showed was that anything can happen in football. That caught everyone's eye."

Leicester spent just short of £70m in the summer transfer window, breaking their club record on three separate occasions.