Mendy says he could see out his career at Al Ahly, and he will always remember Buffon’s example

Speaking on The Mo Show podcast, Mendy insisted he has no intention of leaving Al Ahly and suggested he could even see out his career at the club. “To be honest, I can’t see myself anywhere else; this club gives me everything and helps me perform at my best,” he explained.

Read also: Mendy: Morocco’s title came out of nowhere; we thought the decision was an ‘April Fool’s joke’.

He added that Al Ahly’s support has elevated his performances for Senegal, explaining, “What I have achieved internationally is thanks to what I do here; it would have been difficult to succeed without the club’s backing.”

He concluded, “I’m in the right place at the right time. The management trusts me implicitly, and the fans shower me with love that makes me feel wanted every day.”

Mendy described the difficult period the club experienced as a turning point in its history, explaining, “When the crisis with Matias hit and instability set in, everyone rallied behind the club with all their might.”

“I heard a lot of questions from outside, but I always said that the fans here support the club and nothing else.”

“If the fans hadn’t kept backing the team through that period—with a new manager and a new vision—the outcome would have been very different. They stuck with the project until the end.”

He concluded: “Ultimately, our Asian and domestic titles were won because of the fans; they were the decisive factor in the toughest moments—they truly are the club.”

Mendy praised his Algerian teammate Riyad Mahrez, describing him as an exceptional player with outstanding technical ability, saying: “Riyad is a magical player; he’s incredibly intelligent on the ball and reads defenders’ movements brilliantly.”

He added: “His first touch is always special; he knows how to control the ball and place it in the right spot without any extra effort. His presence with us has clearly made all the difference.”

Mendy recalls a heartfelt exchange with Italian goalkeeping great Gianluigi Buffon: “I was a huge fan, and when we faced him in the French league I felt a special joy; after the match, he congratulated me and asked for my shirt.”

However, the swap did not go through immediately, leaving him slightly disappointed yet unwilling to make a fuss.

Years later, while on international duty, Mendy renewed the request through a member of staff. Buffon replied that he remembered the young keeper and admired his progress.

“Then, on the very day I won The Best award, his shirt finally arrived—one of the happiest days of my career,” he concluded.