Riyad Mahrez’s wife broke down in tears as she claimed she ‘has no choice’ but to follow her husband to Saudi Arabia, before revealing she ‘panicked as the reality of life in the conservative country became apparent’ became.
The ex-Man City star sealed a £30million move to Saudi Pro League team Al-Ahli last summer, earning a deal worth £750,000-a-week, in a shock move.
Taylor Ward revealed in the new Prime Video series ‘Married to the Game’ that she had little warning about her husband’s move to the country.
Ward broke down in tears as she spoke 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 everywhere, it’s 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 over their move to Saudi Arabia
Ward admitted she didn’t like the move to Saudi Arabia and claimed she had no choice
Ward said she was ‘overwhelmed’ after ex-Man City star Mahrez informed her he would be joining Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli
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“I feel like it’s so hard, there are times when I can’t do it, I just don’t like it.
‘We need to talk about something else, I can’t stop crying.
“I don’t like it, I have no choice.”
Ward said she was ‘overwhelmed’ when Mahrez told her they would be leaving Man City and moving to Jeddah at short notice.
The winger told her “It’s part of the game, you know,” after expressing concern about being “sitting at home by myself.”
The series, which airs on February 23, will show how the Mahrez family settled in Saudi Arabia.
Ward – daughter of former Premier League player Ashley Ward – has been traveling back and forth from Manchester as she finalizes preparations to move into their home permanently.
Much has been made of the restrictions in Saudi Arabia. Former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson’s family lived in the more commercial Bahrain during his ill-fated six-month spell, although they still struggled to settle before he sealed a move to Ajax in the Netherlands.
Ward is a social media sensation with nearly 3 million followers on her Instagram account
The Amazon Prime series aims to provide insight into the lives of the wives and girlfriends and Premier League footballers like Ward
Mail Sport reported how the wife of a player who joined a Saudi club last summer was verbally abused in a shopping center for wearing shorts.
Reports have also emerged that players’ wives and girlfriends felt isolated and vulnerable in the conservative Islamic country.
In the second episode, Ward admits she panicked after the reality of life in Saudi Arabia became clear.
The model and influencer said she called a hotel ahead of time to ask what she and their 18-month-old daughter Mila could wear at the pool because she was aware of Saudi Arabia’s conservative stance.
She told a friend of her shock when the hotel told her the pool was for men only.
“I’m not going to lie, I freaked out yesterday,” Ward said.
‘I called the hotel to ask ‘I’m coming with my baby, what do people wear around the pool’, I know it’s a lot more conservative there and you have to dress a certain way
‘I said: “If I come with a baby, I want to see what is best to wear, whether I should wear something covered when I go into the water.
‘They said, “Oh no, sorry, it’s just a men’s pool, it’s just a men’s pool.”
Ward admitted to getting 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 in a pool
She admitted she ‘freaked out’ after being told the hotel’s pool was ‘men only’
The model and influencer revealed her shock that you cannot drink alcohol in Saudi Arabia
“The women can’t use it, so I won’t lie. I had a breakdown afterwards because it affected me.
‘I know it’s so stupid, I don’t even like swimming or getting my hair wet, but it’s just a reality check about not moving to Spain.
‘It’s a very different way of life, I only realized that when Riyadh told me you weren’t allowed to drink there.’
When her friend replied, “You do that in your house,” Ward emphasized the strictness of the rules.
“You can’t drink in full, you can’t just drink indoors,” Ward said.
‘Not in the whole country, you can’t even buy it at the airport.
“No one comes to visit me.”
Speaking to Mail Sport about the series, Ward revealed she has settled in Saudi Arabia.
This included meeting fellow wives and girlfriends of Mahrez’s teammates at Al-Ahli, many of whom are ‘in the same boat’ exploring and discovering a new country in an unfamiliar environment.
Ward had expressed her concerns to her friends about the move to the conservative Islamic nation
Mahrez and Ward married for a second time in September – after first having a Muslim ceremony in 2022
Ward has also claimed that the rules are continually being relaxed.
“I guess it depends on where you’re going. At this point, they are considering relaxing these rules,” she said.
“From what I had heard, I was worried about that when we first went, but it surprised me. It’s more relaxing than what I was first told.
‘Everyone has really supported us. It was obviously a shock at first. My grandparents still live in Britain and they were devastated when I left. If they want to see me, it’s only a five and a half hour flight. We just take trips there and back and family comes to see me.
‘My father and mother live in Dubai, a two-hour flight away. They’ve been to Saudi Arabia six or seven times and come over all the time to visit me, which is nice.”