Riyad Mahrez’s wife broke down in tears as she claimed she ‘doesn’t have any choice’ other than to follow her husband to Saudi Arabia, before revealing she had a ‘freak out as the reality of life in the conservative nation became clear.
The ex-Man City star sealed a £30million move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli last summer, earning a deal worth £750,000-a-week, in a shock transfer.
Taylor Ward revealed in the new Prime Video series ‘Married to the Game’ that she had little warning of her husband’s move to the nation.
Ward broke down in tears when talking to her sister Darby about the prospect of moving to Saudi Arabia in the first episode of the series, 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.
Riyad Mahrez’s wife Taylor Ward broke down in tears due to their move to Saudi Arabia
Ward admitted she didn’t like the move to Saudi Arabia and claimed she doesn’t have a choice
Ward said she was ‘overwhelmed’ after ex-Man City star Mahrez informed her he would be joining Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli
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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 said she was ‘overwhelmed’ when Mahrez informed her they would be leaving Man City and moving to Jeddah at short notice
The winger told her ‘It’s part of the game, innit’, after she had expressed concern that she would be ‘sat at home on my own’.
The series, which airs on February 23, is set to show how Mahrez family have settled to life in Saudi Arabia.
Ward – daughter of former Premier League player Ashley Ward – has travelled back and forth from Manchester as she wraps up preparations to permanently move into their home.
Much has been made of restrictions in Saudi Arabia. The family of former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson lived in the more commercial Bahrain during his ill-fated six-month spell, though they still struggled to settle before he sealed a move to Ajax in the Netherlands.
Ward is a social media sensation with nearly 3million followers on her Instagram account
The Amazon Prime series aims to provide a insight into the lives of the wives and girlfriends and Premier League footballers like Ward
Mail Sport reported how the wife one one player who had joined a Saudi club last summer was being hissed at in a shopping centre for wearing shorts.
Reports have also emerged that players’ wives and girlfriends have felt isolated and vulnerable in the conservative Islamic nation.
In the second episode, Ward admits she had a ‘freak out’ after the reality of living in Saudi Arabia became clear.
The model and influencer said she had phoned ahead to a hotel to ask about what she and their 18-month daughter Mila could wear at the swimming pool, due to being aware of Saudi Arabia’s conservative attitudes.
She revealed her shock to a friend when the hotel informed her that the swimming pool was only for men.
‘I won’t lie, I had a freak out yesterday,’ Ward said.
‘I rang the hotel to ask “I’m coming with my baby, what do people wear around the pool”, I know it is a lot more conservative there and you have to dress a certain way
‘I said “I just want to check when I come with a baby what is the best thing to wear, do I need to wear something covered if I am going in the water.
‘They were like “oh no sorry, it’s just a man’s pool, it is just a gents pool”.
Ward admitted to having a reality check about life in Saudi Arabia when she called a hotel to ask what she and the couple’s 18-month-old daughter, Mila, could wear at a swimming pool
She admitted ‘freaking out’ after being told that the hotel swimming pool was ‘men only’
The model and influencer revealed her shock you are unable to drink alcohol in Saudi Arabia
‘The women can’t use it, so I won’t lie I had a bit of a meltdown after that because it hit me.
‘I know it is so stupid, I don’t even like swimming or getting my hair wet, but it is just the reality check of you are not moving to Spain.
‘It is a very different way of living, I didn’t realise until Riyad told me that you couldn’t drink over there.’
When her friend replied ‘You will in your house’, Ward stressed the tightness of the rules.
‘You are not allowed to drink full stop, you can’t just drink inside,’ Ward said.
‘Not in the whole country, you can’t even buy it at the airport.
‘No-one is going to come visit me.’
Speaking to Mail Sport about the series, Ward revealed she has been settling to life in Saudi Arabia.
This has included meeting up with fellow wives and girlfriends of Mahrez’s team-mates at Al-Ahli, many of whom are ‘in the same boat’ exploring and discovering a new country in unfamiliar surroundings.
Ward had expressed concerns to her friends over moving to the conservative Islamic nation
Mahrez and Ward got married in September for the second time – after first having a Muslim ceremony in 2022
Ward has also claimed rules are being relaxed all the time.
‘I think it depends on where you go. At the moment they’re looking at relaxing these rules,’ she said.
‘From what I had heard, I was worried about that stuff when we first went, but it’s 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.
‘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.’
Source: Daily Mail