Pep Guardiola set to end Manchester City's bid to sign sulking Leicester star Riyad Mahrez

MANCHESTER CITY boss Pep Guardiola is set to turn his back on sulking Leicester star Riyad Mahrez for good.

Guardiola has been left shocked by Mahrez’s behaviour after failing to secure a deadline-day move to the Etihad.

And Starsport understands Mahrez’s vanishing act has now wrecked his chances of joining City once and for all.

The Algerian winger, who yesterday was AWOL from training for the fifth time in a week, has missed Leicester’s last two games.

Guardiola was considering making another bid to land him in the summer as he looks to add another attacking star to his squad.

But the Spanish boss is said to have major concerns about the character of Mahrez and will now look elsewhere.

A club source said: “The manager loves him as a player, there is no secret about that, but what he’s seen in the last week or so has given him huge doubts about what sort of person he is.

Leicester star Riyad Mahrez wanted to join Manchester City GETTY

Leicester star Riyad Mahrez wanted to join Manchester City

“The manager loves him as a player, there is no secret about that, but what he’s seen in the last week or so has given him huge doubts about what sort of person he is”

“You need strong characters to win titles. Going missing is not the thing to do. You have to show more bottle than that and not desert your team-mates.”

Mahrez will once again sidestep Saturday’s clash against Guardiola’s Premier League leaders.

He claimed he was depressed when his proposed move collapsed after Manchester City bosses refused to meet the asking price.

The Foxes wanted a package totalling around £95m but City chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak was not prepared to go higher than £60m.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola won't pursue Riyad Mahrez GETTY

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola won't pursue Riyad Mahrez

Leicester have failed to win both games without Mahrez and his continued absence is threatening to damage their hopes of securing European football next season.

The 2016 Premier League champions have been reluctant to discuss the situation and have to be careful how they deal with Mahrez if his claims at being depressed prove to be true and he has a genuine illness.

Mahrez has handed in two transfer requests in the last six months and remains desperate to leave.

But news that Guardiola has now turned his back on him for good will be another huge blow to Mahrez as he considers his next step.

Pep Guardiola set to end Manchester City's bid to sign sulking Leicester star Riyad Mahrez

MANCHESTER CITY boss Pep Guardiola is set to turn his back on sulking Leicester star Riyad Mahrez for good.

Guardiola has been left shocked by Mahrez’s behaviour after failing to secure a deadline-day move to the Etihad.

And Starsport understands Mahrez’s vanishing act has now wrecked his chances of joining City once and for all.

The Algerian winger, who yesterday was AWOL from training for the fifth time in a week, has missed Leicester’s last two games.

Guardiola was considering making another bid to land him in the summer as he looks to add another attacking star to his squad.

But the Spanish boss is said to have major concerns about the character of Mahrez and will now look elsewhere.

A club source said: “The manager loves him as a player, there is no secret about that, but what he’s seen in the last week or so has given him huge doubts about what sort of person he is.

Leicester star Riyad Mahrez wanted to join Manchester City GETTY

Leicester star Riyad Mahrez wanted to join Manchester City

“The manager loves him as a player, there is no secret about that, but what he’s seen in the last week or so has given him huge doubts about what sort of person he is”

“You need strong characters to win titles. Going missing is not the thing to do. You have to show more bottle than that and not desert your team-mates.”

Mahrez will once again sidestep Saturday’s clash against Guardiola’s Premier League leaders.

He claimed he was depressed when his proposed move collapsed after Manchester City bosses refused to meet the asking price.

The Foxes wanted a package totalling around £95m but City chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak was not prepared to go higher than £60m.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola won't pursue Riyad Mahrez GETTY

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola won't pursue Riyad Mahrez

Leicester have failed to win both games without Mahrez and his continued absence is threatening to damage their hopes of securing European football next season.

The 2016 Premier League champions have been reluctant to discuss the situation and have to be careful how they deal with Mahrez if his claims at being depressed prove to be true and he has a genuine illness.

Mahrez has handed in two transfer requests in the last six months and remains desperate to leave.

But news that Guardiola has now turned his back on him for good will be another huge blow to Mahrez as he considers his next step.

Riyad Mahrez: Man City boss Pep Guardiola gives up on transfer because of sulking star | Daily Star

Pep Guardiola set to end Manchester City's bid to sign sulking Leicester star Riyad Mahrez

MANCHESTER CITY boss Pep Guardiola is set to turn his back on sulking Leicester star Riyad Mahrez for good.

Guardiola has been left shocked by Mahrez’s behaviour after failing to secure a deadline-day move to the Etihad.

And Starsport understands Mahrez’s vanishing act has now wrecked his chances of joining City once and for all.

The Algerian winger, who yesterday was AWOL from training for the fifth time in a week, has missed Leicester’s last two games.

Guardiola was considering making another bid to land him in the summer as he looks to add another attacking star to his squad.

But the Spanish boss is said to have major concerns about the character of Mahrez and will now look elsewhere.

A club source said: “The manager loves him as a player, there is no secret about that, but what he’s seen in the last week or so has given him huge doubts about what sort of person he is.

Leicester star Riyad Mahrez wanted to join Manchester City GETTY

Leicester star Riyad Mahrez wanted to join Manchester City

“The manager loves him as a player, there is no secret about that, but what he’s seen in the last week or so has given him huge doubts about what sort of person he is”

“You need strong characters to win titles. Going missing is not the thing to do. You have to show more bottle than that and not desert your team-mates.”

Mahrez will once again sidestep Saturday’s clash against Guardiola’s Premier League leaders.

He claimed he was depressed when his proposed move collapsed after Manchester City bosses refused to meet the asking price.

The Foxes wanted a package totalling around £95m but City chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak was not prepared to go higher than £60m.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola won't pursue Riyad Mahrez GETTY

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola won't pursue Riyad Mahrez

Leicester have failed to win both games without Mahrez and his continued absence is threatening to damage their hopes of securing European football next season.

The 2016 Premier League champions have been reluctant to discuss the situation and have to be careful how they deal with Mahrez if his claims at being depressed prove to be true and he has a genuine illness.

Mahrez has handed in two transfer requests in the last six months and remains desperate to leave.

But news that Guardiola has now turned his back on him for good will be another huge blow to Mahrez as he considers his next step.