Manchester City star Riyad Mahrez’s ex-wife has claimed that he turned his back on their family after signing for the Premier League champions – and believes City’s transfer target, Harry Kane’s wife had a “lucky escape”.
The Algerian made a £60m move to the Etihad Stadium in 2018 from Leicester, where he was part of the squad that won a famous league title two years earlier.
While at the King Power Stadium, he married then-fiancee Rita Johal – a model and aspiring pop star – in 2015 and had a child the same year.
With another member of the family arriving four years later, the relationship suddenly split as Mahrez started dating current fiancee Taylor Ward.
And Johal has said that it was the move to City that changed her ex-husband from a down-to-earth dad to a “big head”.
Speaking to The Sun, the singer said: “The Riyad I met is a different person to the one he is now. He parties, he acts like a flash footballer.
“I don’t hate him, that’s a strong word, but I am shocked and saddened by what he has done.
“He suddenly left me, blaming the pressures of playing at Manchester City.
“Now he spends all his time jetting around the place on holiday without a care in the world.”
See Also: Premiership: Mahrez Finally Join ManCity for £60 million
City worked hard over the summer to try and sign Tottenham captain Harry Kane, putting in several offers for the forward after he expressed a desire to leave earlier this year.
But the 28-year-old performed a dramatic U-turn earlier this week, confirming on Twitter that he would be staying in north London.
The England captain has been with childhood love Katie Goodland since 2015, with the couple having three children together.
And Johal believes the couple escaped a potential split with a move to City, adding: “I can’t comment on other people’s lives but moving there changed my husband.
“Harry Kane’s wife probably had a lucky escape. Others should be careful.
“Riyad let fame go to his head. He changed when he went to Manchester City.
“But a footballer’s career is short-lived.
“They should remain grounded and loyal to those they care for, even when they have moved up to a bigger club, because when it’s all over they will realise who’s truly there.”
Source: Complete Sports