From luxurious holidays and VIP experiences galore to nearly limitless spending energy – the lifetime of a WAG would possibly look like the stuff of goals. But it is not all it is cracked as much as be…
That is at the very least in keeping with the companions of three high footballers, who’ve described a number of the difficulties that comes with the function – from the stress of matches and the ’emotional rollercoaster’ of shifting overseas to having to let their very own careers take a again seat.
Taylor Ward, the husband of Riyad Mahrez, is without doubt one of the stars of Married To The Recreation, a present that focuses on the lives of footballer’s wives and can stream on Prime Video from February.
She seems on the collection alongside fellow WAGs Cat Harding, fiancee of Arsenal star Jorginho and Sara Gundogan, spouse of Manchester Metropolis’s midfielder Ilkay Gundogan.
Prematurely of the documentary, all three spoke to MailOnline to supply an unique perception into their lives – from the highs to the lows. Here’s what they revealed –
TAYLOR WARD: ‘Individuals misunderstood my husband Riyad Mahrez’ blunt ”it is a part of the sport, innit” remark after he revealed we have been moving to Saudi‘
Taylor Ward defended her husband Riyad Mahrez after he confronted backlash for telling his sobbing spouse ‘it is a part of the sport, innit’ whereas revealing a transfer to Saudi Arabia.
Ward, 25, stated individuals have ‘misunderstood’ the French-Algerian footballer’s tone as he informed her concerning the transfer from Cheshire to Jeddah in an emotional clip that went viral.
Setting the report straight, she admitted his response to her being upset was blunt – however stated that was right down to French individuals being extra ‘to the purpose’.
The footballer, who captains the Algerian nationwide group, had been enjoying for Man City however telephoned her to say he had signed a 4 12 months contract with Al-Ahli within the Saudi Arabian professional league.
Weeping as she remembers the second in Married To The Recreation, she tells the Mail: ‘Riyad rang me and basically told me we’re shifting to Saudi. I’ll be sat at dwelling by myself.’
Taylor Ward, 25, broke down in tears as she revealed her husband Riyad Mahrez, 32, informed her over the telephone they have been shifting to Saudi Arabia
The couple made the transfer to Saudi Arabia after he finalised a profitable contract with Saudi Arabian soccer membership Al Ahli
The brand new six-part collection may also comply with Taylor as she plans her wedding ceremony to her husband (pictured at their second wedding ceremony in September) as they reportedly plan to have three in complete
Ward has now stated: ‘I used to be shocked that individuals picked up on that a lot. ‘It is humorous as a result of clearly from watching the trailer he has such a blunt response to me being upset however I feel that is our relationship.
‘He’s very blunt – a bit robust love. Riyad is French and French individuals normally are very to the purpose. Additionally he’s a person. I feel he is solely cried in entrance of me twice in our relationship and it was not the Saudi transfer – in order that’s simply who he’s.’
She added: ‘Riyad could be very calm, he would not panic below stress and he is very to the purpose and straight speaking whereas I am a little bit of a flapper in these conditions.
‘I truly assume as harsh because it sounds I feel that is why we work as a result of he type of brings me again right down to earth. He is very very similar to: ‘It’s what it’s it is advisable get on with it.’
‘If I had somebody there consoling me patting my again saying ‘oh I do know life’s so unhappy you might be shifting to Saudi’ I’d most likely really feel worse.
‘We’re simply married and he’s so supportive. Clearly as a lot as he’s simple and to the purpose he’s probably the most loving particular person ever.
‘If I used to be actually upset concerning the Saudi transfer or if I used to be actually genuinely depressed and upset about it he would not put us ready the place I’d really feel like that.
‘I feel he simply knew it was type of me panicking within the second and having a wobbly and that I’d be effective the following day. He is aware of tips on how to take care of me that is for certain.’
Taylor, Riyad, and the couple’s daughter Mila have been pressured to wave goodbye to their life in Cheshire again in July
The couple share daughter Mila, 18 months
Taylor and daughter Mila have this week flown out to Jeddah to make their transfer everlasting after spending months house-hunting and shifting forwards and backwards between Saudi and the UK.
She stated: ‘Initially after I stated: ‘If we transfer we are going to all be shifting collectively’ I wasn’t considering that it might be so far as Saudi Arabia. I used to be considering possibly down south to London or one thing like that.
‘Riyad needed to go over right away so we moved right into a resort. It took us a number of months to discover a home which we now have discovered now.’
She stated their home is ‘attractive’ and that the principle downside that they had when home looking was that a number of the homes in Saudi Arabia have been like ‘palaces’.
‘Truthfully we have been strolling round them and I used to be like: ”I do not know what we’re going to put in these rooms, we’re working out of concepts. We won’t dwell right here! That is getting ridiculous. What number of rooms there are?”
‘They have been genuinely too large. I feel we now have discovered one thing now which is very nice. It is nonetheless actually spacious however we aren’t going to be getting misplaced on completely different flooring looking for one another.’
Opening as much as the previous Manchester Metropolis participant, 32, Taylor stated: ‘I’ll be sat at dwelling by myself,’ as Riyad responded: ‘It is a part of the sport innit’
Ward stated the transfer got here as a ‘enormous shock’ that she did not see coming. She stated she has a detailed group of family and friends in Manchester – although her dad and mom and two sisters dwell in Dubai.
‘Not too long ago each time I have been in Saudi my mum will flip up because it’s solely two hours away,’ she informed.
‘My mum is inside designing our home in Saudi so she has been forwards and backwards non cease and he or she loves it.
‘She and Riyad get on like a home on hearth from the day they met and I feel he truly speaks to my mum and pop (former footballer Ashley Ward) than he does to me.
‘Me and Riyad met not lengthy earlier than lockdown and round every week after he first met my dad and mom we went into lockdown and he ended up shifting in with me and my household, so from day one they’ve been inseparable.’
‘We at all times stated that if a transfer comes up and it is best for Riyad and finest for our household we are going to take it and go collectively. A soccer profession is such a brief time period that you simply simply should profit from it while it lasts.’
As for all times when he retires – she says that they’re considering of a transfer to Dubai.
Arsenal WAG Cat Harding avoids her fiancé Jorginho for twenty-four hours after a defeat and says her life revolves round his schedule.
The mother-of-two, 33, informed MailOnline she is not an enormous fan of soccer and would not know the offside rule – solely agreeing to look at the game when her 32-year-old husband to be is enjoying.
In an unique interview, the singer gave an perception into being the partner of a sportsman, saying there’s ‘no means’ she will be able to discuss to Jorginho when he loses a sport they usually even should postpone dinner plans due to his low temper.
The Italian midfielder, who earns a reported £110,000 every week, proposed to Cat in December with a love coronary heart rose show and violinist that was captured on digital camera for the upcoming TV present.
And now the previous Voice UK contestant is planning their elaborate wedding ceremony set to be held in Italy, excitedly revealing she has already chosen her dream gown.
Arsenal WAG Cat Harding avoids fiancé Jorginho for twenty-four hours after a defeat and says her life revolves round his schedule as she reveals the downsides of relationship a footballer
The mother-of-two informed MailOnline she is not an enormous fan of soccer and would not know the offside rule
Jorginho, who earns a reported £110,000 every week, proposed to Cat in December with a love coronary heart rose show and violinist that was captured on digital camera for the upcoming TV present
Cat stated: ‘I do really feel like I’m married to the sport.
‘It adjustments a variety of issues… your entire life revolves across the schedule of your associate however to a different degree as a result of it is not a traditional schedule the place you’ll be able to plan. Every thing needs to be deliberate round what is going on on with them.
‘You possibly can’t plan something prematurely until it’s in June. I’m planning my wedding ceremony for subsequent summer season as a result of J may presumably be within the Euros this 12 months once more so it is going to be subsequent 12 months.
‘Even sure issues like we now have typically had dinner deliberate with mates and in the event that they lose a sport, we now have to cancel and I really feel the worst however there isn’t any means you’ll be able to exit with somebody… after J has completed a sport they usually misplaced, there isn’t any means I can discuss to him for twenty-four hours. He’s not within the temper.’
Cat, who’s a mum to daughter Ada, eight, from her relationship with Hollywood actor Jude Legislation, 51, and shares son Jax, three, with Jorginho, says she did not win over her fiancé by pretending to love soccer.
In truth, Cat has solely lately realized there are 11 gamers in a group and admits the foundations of the sport are nonetheless a thriller to her.
She stated: ‘I’m not loopy into soccer and I’ve by no means pretended that I’m. I do not know something about it.
‘I really like going to the video games as a result of it’s a utterly completely different ambiance and it’s completely different when you’re on the sport, you’ll be able to really feel the power within the stadium, in comparison with when you’re watching it at dwelling.
In an unique interview, the singer gave an perception into being the partner of a sportsman, saying there’s ‘no means’ she will be able to discuss to Jorginho when he loses a sport
Cat, who’s a mum to daughter Ada from her relationship with Hollywood actor Jude Legislation, and shares son Jax with Jorginho, is planning their elaborate wedding ceremony set to be held in Italy
Married to the Recreation viewers can have the possibility to look at the Euro 2022 winner’s romantic proposal, which Cat says has earned Jorginho bragging rights amongst his teammates
‘I do not watch soccer aside from when he’s enjoying. I do not know any of the foundations, I do not know the offside rule, I do not know something… he tries to clarify it to me. I actually simply realized there are 11 gamers.’
Shortly after their engagement, the couple, who initially met on a relationship app, moved into a brand new dwelling in London’s West Hampstead to be nearer to Ada’s faculty and Jorginho’s coaching floor.
Regardless of a busy begin to the 12 months, Cat has already discovered her wedding ceremony gown and is planning to scope out venues in Italy forward of their large day in the summertime of 2025.
She stated: ‘We received engaged on December 6 so proper earlier than Christmas.
‘We had household over from Brazil afterwards, we had the youngsters right here, we have been so busy after which it was Christmas, then we went away and since we received again, we moved home.
‘However I did say to J final night time I feel I’ll go to Italy subsequent month and begin venues.
‘I feel I’ve discovered my wedding ceremony gown however it’s the second gown I’ve tried on so I most likely must go to another retailers.’
Cat hopes viewers will see there’s extra to the wives and girlfriends of Premier League gamers than luxurious holidays, beautifying and designer luggage, as she labels ‘WAG’ a ‘silly time period
Jorginho’s dedication to the sport, which has seen him win UEFA males’s participant of the 12 months, means he’s typically other than his household.
The daddy-of-three, who additionally has a son and a daughter from his first marriage to Natalia Leteri, defined the most important sacrifices are the particular moments he misses along with his kids.
Talking on the present, he stated: ‘Everybody thinks soccer is completely satisfied and you haven’t any issues, however we sacrifice lots.
‘The most important one is being away on a regular basis and never being shut and lacking many necessary moments… the youngsters rising up… it is not as straightforward as individuals assume and that is the fact.’
Married to the Recreation viewers can have the possibility to look at the Euro 2022 winner’s romantic proposal, which Cat says has earned Jorginho bragging rights amongst his teammates.
However making a TV second of the intimate event wasn’t Jorginho’s intention as Cat reveals he is shy off the pitch and as a performer she’s extra outgoing of their relationship.
Cat joins fellow WAGs Taylor Ward, who’s married to Riyad Mahrez and Sara Gundogan, spouse of Manchester Metropolis’s midfielder Ilkay Gundogan on the collection
She stated: ‘J did not wish to suggest on digital camera, that is one factor he needed to carry again on.
‘He is truly lots shyer than me particularly when he would not know somebody. He actually takes time to analyse a state of affairs and know what is going on on, he isn’t very ahead at first.
‘But it surely felt completely wonderful. I used to be anticipating it however how he managed to trick me within the second, it was a complete different factor. He put in a lot work and he went above and past to make it particular. He’s fairly one thing.
‘He’s now giving tricks to different gamers and mates about tips on how to do proposals.’
Cat hopes watchers will see there’s extra to the wives and girlfriends of Premier League gamers than luxurious holidays, beautifying and designer luggage, as she labels ‘WAG’ a ‘silly time period.’
She stated: ‘It’s nonetheless used a lot. It would not have an effect on me that a lot, I giggle at it.
‘I do not prefer it or assume it is proper. Now we have our personal lives and do our personal issues, different wives and companions of the gamers are actually profitable ladies in their very own proper so I do not assume it ought to be a time period that’s used to label them.
‘However for me personally, I simply let it go… it would not have an effect on my life or how I really feel about myself it is only a silly time period.’
SARA GUNDOGAN: ‘I now MISS Manchester regardless of slamming the ”horrible meals” – and battle with having my achievements decreased to ”zero”’
Sara Gundogan has revealed she misses residing in Manchester regardless of her earlier criticism of the town’s ‘horrible’ meals.
Gundogan, beforehand Sara Arfaoui, began dating former Man City star Ilkay Gundogan in 2021 earlier than they tied the knot a 12 months later. They’ve one son collectively, Kais, who was born in March 2023.
Sara was a highly-successful TV presenter and mannequin earlier than assembly Ilkay, with the couple relocating to Barcelona this summer season after the midfielder joined the Catalan giants upon the expiry of his contract on the Etihad.
He loved a massively adorned seven-year spell with Metropolis, profitable 14 trophies, which included captaining Pep Guardiola‘s facet to a historic Treble final season.
Sara Gundogan has revealed she misses Manchester regardless of beforehand criticising the town
Gundogan was by her husband’s facet for his massively adorned seven-year spell on the membership
Nevertheless, issues have been generally difficult off the pitch, with Sara infamously criticising Manchester on events, which included one rant about the quality of the food in October 2022.
She posted on her Instagram story: ‘Sorry, I am unhappy to be trustworthy however nothing. I attempted [sic] so unhealthy to discover a good restaurant however horrible meals all over the place.
‘Cannot discover a actual Italian or good sushi or simply contemporary meals… the whole lot frozen. Eating places listed here are focus [sic] on creating wealth with drinks and shot [sic] like nightclubs, not high quality meals. Perhaps in London however in Manchester nothing. I am sorry.’
Nevertheless, talking solely to Mail Sport, Sara revealed that she grew to like Manchester and truly discovered it arduous to depart in the summertime.
‘Once I was in Manchester, my entire life was (initially) round soccer,’ she stated. ‘My mates have been soccer, the individuals I met via my husband, after which I did not have something that was simply my world exterior of that.
‘And I am a social particular person. So it took me a little bit of time, however I made it mates and it was very nice.
‘After making mates, I used to be actually completely satisfied. I had my very own life and routine in Manchester and I’ve certainly one of my finest mates there.’
Sara infamously stated in an Instagram publish that she was fed up of ‘horrible meals’ in Manchester
Sara revealed that after a tough bedding in interval, she grew to like her time in Manchester
When she was informed Ilkay would be a part of Barcelona, Sara stated she discovered it robust to depart the town
There have been a number of rumours about Ilkay’s future in the summertime, with the midfielder linked with golf equipment throughout the globe, whereas there was additionally an opportunity he would keep at Metropolis.
And Sara went onto clarify the issue of leaving Manchester behind after discovering out her husband can be shifting overseas.
She added: ‘Through the years I’d see mates shifting so it is one thing that is at all times round in soccer and you’ll immediately simply have a telephone name from them telling you they will one other nation.
‘So, it is at all times round, it is at all times occurring however I did not think about that it might be us and when it is you it is large a shock.
‘It is at all times unhappy, particularly since you make mates, you are completely satisfied someplace, you construct your life after which you must depart all of the individuals you like.’
Sara additionally mirrored on her preliminary struggles in Manchester and defined how sticking with issues finally paid off.
She added : ‘I feel it is actually arduous to dwell in England when you’re alone in the home and you may’t meet anybody.
‘However once you begin to know a bit extra about it, tips on how to go round and have mates, I feel the place adjustments utterly and you may get pleasure from it.
‘I began to get pleasure from the whole lot and I type of miss Manchester now.’
Gundogan beforehand had a highly-successful profession in TV again in Italy, the place she grew up
Sara additionally labored as a mannequin, however revealed how these achievements grew to become ‘zero’ when she married Ilkay, with the 28-year-old subsequently simply generally known as the soccer star’s spouse
Sara went on to record a number of the challenges of being a WAG, together with letting her personal profession take a again seat.
‘As a spouse generally you might be on the facet,’ she solely informed Mail Sport. ‘But it surely was arduous as a result of regardless of my work as a TV presenter, the very fact I communicate six languages and travelled the world as a mannequin, after I was him, the whole lot I did, immediately it grew to become zero and I simply grew to become his spouse.
‘The individuals knew me earlier than as a media star however after I grew to become a spouse, there may be the tendency of the press to point out wives of gamers in a sure means and it is like we now have to suit this cliche.
‘I misplaced a bit my spontaneity, my means of talking with out considering. So yeah, it is a bit arduous, as a result of you must additionally rebuild your self and discover your individual id.
‘It is type of unhappy as a result of there isn’t any different sport, there may be nothing related, say in cinema or politics, that may describe a spouse of an necessary politician that means.’
Sara additionally admitted she was ‘shocked’ at her husband’s transfer to Barcelona and did not initially imagine the rumours.
Sara revealed she informed her husband to comply with his goals when requested for recommendation on the transfer
‘I did not actually imagine these (rumours about becoming a member of Barcelona),’ she stated. ‘Each summer season and January, in each switch market individuals would at all times come to me with rumours.
‘Some individuals even used to textual content me to say ‘you are coming to Italy?’ and I used to be by no means taking something critically.
‘I had mates texting me saying I used to be coming again, and I used to be like, ‘no’. It simply occurred. And the humorous truth is that I did not take it critically.
‘I used to be like, no it can’t be as a result of my husband is a few years right here in Manchester and I do not see this occurring.
She continued: ‘I used to be in Italy, it was vacation time. It was my first vacation with my child and I went to fulfill all my mates. So I used to be a bit in my bubble, for instance child bubble.
‘And I simply received a telephone name and it was like ‘we’re going there’. I wasn’t taking it critically. I do not know if it was a shock. So it took me a little bit of time to understand what was occurring.’
Married To The Recreation is obtainable solely on Prime Video on February 23
