Riyad Mahrez’s spouse reveals what Saudi Arabia is REALLY like

Riyad Mahrez‘s transfer to Saudi Arabia final summer time was a giant shock for soccer followers however no-one was shocked greater than his spouse, mannequin and influencer Taylor Ward. 

The 26-year-old, who’s the daughter of Real House of Cheshire star Dawn and former Premier League participant Ashley, went viral after a clip for her new documentary confirmed Mahrez’s blunt response to her shock when discovering out she was set to maneuver to Saudi Pro League membership Al-Ahli.

Ward stated she was ‘overwhelmed’ when Mahrez knowledgeable her they might be leaving Man City and transferring to Jeddah at quick discover, with the winger telling her: ‘It’s a part of the sport, innit,’ after she had expressed concern that she can be ‘sat at dwelling alone’.

That second shall be documented within the upcoming Prime Video present Married to the Game, which can also be set to element the couple’s transfer to Saudi and present how they’ve since settled into the nation. Other wives and girlfriends of footballers will exhibit their very own life in subsequent episodes. 

Ward admitted Mahrez’s response to her ‘nonetheless haunts me’, however stated the Algerian participant was ‘straight-talking’ and ‘to the purpose’ as she opened up on the ’emotional rollercoaster’ whereas chatting with Mail Sport. 

‘That line haunts me,’ she stated, as she defined {that a} clip of her crying was after a sitdown along with her sister afterward. 

‘I preserve seeing it on social media. That complete week was simply an emotional rollercoaster actually. It was an enormous shock and I had completely no thought. One day we have been planning for Riyad to return to pre-season with City after which in a single day we have been transferring to Saudi and I used to be planning this complete transfer. 

‘I believe it was simply very overwhelming on the time and a large shock as a result of I simply did not see it coming in any respect. That scene with Riyad – that’s simply him to a tee. He is simply straight speaking and to the purpose. He could be very a lot identical to, “it is what it is, you’ve got to get over it now”, whereas I’m extra emotional. That’s why we work as a result of I’m a little bit of a flapper in these conditions and he is very on the ball and simply will get on with it.’ 

Ward spoke of how the pair have been on vacation when Mahrez acquired the provide earlier than he jetted dwelling to say his goodbyes to his Manchester City team-mates – and the wheels began turning rapidly. The fast-nature of the transfer left her with little time to course of issues, and even say her personal goodbyes to individuals on the Etihad.

‘We have been really on vacation on the time and there was discuss concerning the transfer,’ stated Ward. 

‘Riyad had a number of years left on his contract at City and was actually settled there. Every dialog was “we’re not going to move yet, it’s something we’ll consider in a few years”. I began listening to individuals from Saudi displaying curiosity however by no means thought something would come of it. 

‘He flew dwelling two days early to begin pre-season so so far as I used to be involved he was going again to Man City and that was it. One day he rang me whereas I used to be sat on the seashore and stated “we’re moving and I’m going tomorrow, that’s it”. 

‘He put me on the telephone to one of many ladies on the membership and I burst into tears – I used to be like “I can’t believe this is happening”. It occurred so fast, you aren’t getting a minute to say bye to everybody. One minute he was beginning pre-season, the subsequent he was saying goodbye.’ 

Married to the Game will present how the Mahrez household – together with their 18-month-old daughter Mila – have settled into Jeddah, although Ward revealed she has thus far been travelling forwards and backwards from Manchester as she wraps up preparations to completely transfer into their dwelling. 

Much has been fabricated from restrictions in Saudi Arabia. The household of former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson lived within the extra industrial Bahrain throughout his ill-fated six-month spell, although they nonetheless struggled to settle earlier than he sealed a transfer to Ajax within the Netherlands. 

Mail Sport reported how the spouse one one participant who had joined a Saudi membership final summer time was being hissed at in a procuring centre for carrying shorts.

Meanwhile, searing temperatures of 30 levels and paltry crowds at stadiums have additionally lessened the urge for food for stars becoming a member of the Saudi revolution in a rustic that’s set to host the 2030 World Cup.

However, Ward insists she has been ‘stunned’ by life within the Middle East, having been made to really feel somewhat bit nearer to dwelling after discovering solace in a number of creature comforts – together with recognizing an unlikely Nando’s chain. 

‘So far, the expertise has been wonderful,’ she added. ‘There’s clearly no alcohol so I will not be having a glass of wine! To be sincere, there’s extra there than I initially thought. When I went on my first journey, I noticed a Nando’s. I used to be identical to “I’m so happy they’ve got Nando’s”. 

‘The vibe is simply very totally different. It’s much more chilled on the market, it is quieter and calmer, whereas in Manchester life is so busy – there’s a lot happening and we’re at all times going out for dinner and seeing associates. That’s in all probability what I’m lacking probably the most, seeing household and associates somewhat than what the nation is lacking.

‘The individuals have been so pretty – I believe that was really a large shock, how good everybody has been. You cannot evaluate it to the UK – it is nothing like right here. I’m having fun with it thus far, it simply seems like I’m on vacation, I do not really feel like I’ve moved there but.’ 

The restriction that can’t be escaped is the apparent segregations on gender, equivalent to these seen in swimming swimming pools and resorts, a few of which solely enable {couples} to remain collectively if they’re married. 

But Ward claimed guidelines are being relaxed on a regular basis, including: ‘I believe it will depend on the place you go. At the second they’re taking a look at enjoyable these guidelines. From what I had heard, I used to be frightened about that stuff once we first went, however it’s stunned me. It’s extra relaxed from what I used to be first advised.’

When put to her about Henderson’s household dwelling within the neighbouring Bahrain, she reiterated that she was pleased in Jeddah and deliberate to be there for the foreseeable future.

‘I’m not simply saying this, I really actually prefer it,’ she stated. ‘I can not fault it thus far, we have actually loved it. We’ve simply obtained our home right here so I’ll undoubtedly be staying in Jeddah and will not be going wherever else. 

‘It’s obtained lovely seashores, outlets, eating places. I do not suppose there can be any want to maneuver wherever else. I’ll be in Jeddah for the forseeable that is for positive.’ 

The collection will discover different {couples} and their journeys to different locations to comply with the goals of soccer stars, equivalent to Sarah Gundogan travelling with husband Ilkay – a former City team-mate of Mahrez – this time going from Manchester to the extra liberal Barcelona.

So, would Ward fancy going to some other vacation spot of her alternative if the facility have been in her palms?

She has maintained that wherever Mahrez goes, she goes – a vow that was made very early on of their relationship as soon as issues grew to become critical, respecting that the participant himself has a brief profession and must take advantage of it. 

‘We at all times agreed from the start that with soccer issues change and wherever he went I’d go along with him,’ she stated. 

‘I’m very lucky that with my job I can simply journey and I haven’t got something holding me again in that sense. It was at all times one thing that I agreed to and stated “listen, I want us to stick together as a family”. Football careers are so quick and it’s a must to take advantage of it. 

‘It was nonetheless a large shock and when that day comes you possibly can’t put together for it. Riyad will at all times do what’s greatest for the household. If it was someplace actually stunning, he would not comply with go within the first place. I belief him.’

As for her family and friends – that has been one of many largest wrenches of this transfer for Ward. She stated they have been ‘devastated’ and that not having them round was the hardest half, though a sweetener within the transfer is having her mother and father dwelling in Dubai, only a two-hour flight away. 

‘Everyone’s been actually supportive,’ Ward stated. ‘Obviously it was a shock initially. My grandparents nonetheless dwell within the UK and so they have been devastated that I used to be leaving. It’s solely a five-and-a-half hour flight in the event that they wish to see me. We’ll simply do journeys there and again and household will come see me. 

‘My mum and pa dwell in Dubai which is a two-hour flight away. They have been to Saudi six or seven occasions already – continuously turning as much as come and see me which is sweet.’ 

There have already been murmurs of discontent from a handful of star names who’ve not too long ago moved to the Saudi Pro League. 

In addition to Henderson being unsettled, former Liverpool man Roberto Firmino was reportedly eyeing a return to the Premier League, whereas ex-Real Madrid foward Karim Benzema fell out along with his supervisor at Al-Ittihad, with rumours he was looking for an exit. 

But the identical can’t be stated for Mahrez, who Ward says is loving life at Al-Ahli and has no plans to return to the Premier League or transfer wherever else for the meantime.

‘Football is so unpredictable, when that switch window opens you don’t have any thought what is going on to occur,’ she went on. ‘For now, the plan is to remain in Saudi for a number of years and luxuriate in it. I put a lot effort into making this home good so I wish to dwell in it for a bit and luxuriate in settling down. 

‘We’ll see, who is aware of – proper now he is actually having fun with it. He loves his membership and he is met some good associates, a number of different French guys on the crew who he will get on very well with.’

Ward has performed a little bit of that settling in herself by assembly up with fellow wives and girlfriends of Mahrez’s team-mates at Al-Ahli, lots of whom are ‘in the identical boat’ exploring and discovering a brand new nation in unfamiliar environment. 

She is hoping now that followers and viewers will see a special aspect to her and never simply the ‘glamorous aspect’ that everybody sees on social media, insisting her life is ‘not all roses and rainbows’.

‘Lots of people see photos on Instagram of our lives and suppose every thing is so excellent and glamorous, however they do not see what we’re like as individuals and what goes on behind the scenes,’ Ward stated.

‘I hope it offers individuals a greater perception into that and lets individuals get to know us higher in that sense, and see that it is not all roses and rainbows. 

‘We’re not these excellent those that lead these wonderful, glamorous lives – we’re really very regular as effectively. I hope they get to see a little bit of each.’