Riyad Mahrez’s wife Taylor Ward broke down in tears and claimed she had “no choice” over the couple’s move to Saudi Arabia.
Mahrez was among a contingent of high-profile stars to move from Europe to the Saudi Pro League in the summer. The former Manchester City star's £30million transfer to Al-Ahli has seen him reportedly pick up an eye-watering £750,000 wage.
Of course, a transfer not only has implications on a player but also their families, with partners often being forced to also uproot their lives.
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In Prime Video’s new series 'Married to the Game', Mahrez’s wife Taylor Ward revealed that she had little warning of her husband's move to Saudi Arabia.
In the first episode of the series, Ward broke down in tears when talking to her sister Darby about the prospect of moving to the Gulf state, admitting she felt like she had “no choice.”
“I feel like everyone is going to be all over the place, it is just going to be so hard, life is going to be so different,” Ward said.
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“I feel like it is so hard, there are times I can’t, I just don’t like it.
“We have to talk about something else, I can’t stop crying. I don’t like it, I don’t have any choice.”
Ward admitted she was 'overwhelmed' upon being informed by Mahrez that they would be leaving Manchester and moving to Jeddah at short notice.
After she expressed concern that she would be “sat at home on my own”, Mahrez stoically told her “It's part of the game, innit”.
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Speaking to Mail Sport about the series, Ward has since revealed she has been settling into life in Saudi Arabia.
She said: “From what I had heard, I was worried about that [the conservative culture] when we first went, but it has surprised me. It's more relaxed from what I was first told.
“Everyone's been really supportive. Obviously, it was a shock at the beginning. My grandparents still live in the UK and they were devastated that I was leaving. It's only a five-and-a-half-hour flight if they want to see me. We'll just do trips there and back and family will come see me.
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“My mum and dad live in Dubai which is a two-hour flight away. They have been to Saudi six or seven times already - constantly turning up to come and see me which is nice.”
Chris Byfield