Riyad Mahrez, the Algerian winger, recently departed from Manchester City, one of England’s top Premier League teams, to join Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia. Mahrez expressed his sentiment in a news release, saying, “Playing for Manchester City has been an incredible honor and privilege. I joined the club with the aim of winning trophies and enjoying my football, and I have achieved that and more.”
During his time at Manchester City, Mahrez, 32, made 236 appearances, scoring 78 goals and providing 59 assists. He joined City in 2018 after playing for Leicester City in the Premier League. His most successful season with City was in 2021-22 when he scored a career-high of 24 goals. Mahrez also won four Premier League titles during his five-season tenure with Manchester City, including a treble – Champions League, Premier League, and FA Cup – in his final season.
Al-Ahli, the team Mahrez is joining, played in the First Division League last season but was promoted back to the top-tier Roshn Saudi League for the upcoming 2023-24 campaign. The Roshn Saudi League received sponsorship from Roshn, a real estate division of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). Notably, PIF also owns other clubs in the Roshn Saudi League, such as Al Hilal, Al-Ittihad, and Al Nassr.
Mahrez’s move to Al-Ahli is part of a trend whereby former European soccer stars are being recruited by PIF-owned teams. Earlier this month, Al-Ahli signed Roberto Firmino, a former striker for Liverpool. Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante were signed by Al-Ittihad last month, and Al Nassr acquired Cristiano Ronaldo in December. Given PIF’s substantial worth of over $600 billion, these signings showcase the financial strength and ambition of the investment fund.
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