The Algeria international wanted out of Leicester on the back of a title triumph in 2016, but saw the Foxes prevent him from leaving for two years.
Riyad Mahrez claims Leicester’s reluctance to sell him to Arsenal in 2016 means he has “lost two years” of his career, with the Algerian forced to wait on Manchester City to do a deal.
Mahrez told France Football: "After the title, if I'd left for a top team, it wouldn't have been the same story.
"For me, it's clear that I lost two years at the highest level. I lost two years! Because instead of arriving at City at 27, I could have been there at 24, 25.
"Leicester blocked me. They told me: 'You're not leaving, you're not leaving'.
"My agent had spoken to [Arsene] Wenger who really wanted me. It was nearly all done with Arsenal in 2016. I was really frustrated.
"It wasn't easy to go from being the best player in the Premier League to being a part of a team fighting against relegation.
"It's not the same job. Everyone is waiting for you around the corner."
The 28-year-old is happy to be working with one of the best coaches in the business in Pep Guardiola.
“He is a winner, he is there to make us progress,” added Mahrez.
“Guardiola, he'll explain everything to us, decrypt everything, from A to Z, with the aim of determining the match. He is focused on every game.”