Over the past 12 months, there has been a significant rise in the number of footballers departing Europe to play in Saudi Arabia.
And who can blame them? With astronomical amounts of money on offer, many have found it difficult to turn down the opportunity.
But it can’t all be about money. Players also have other things to consider when pondering a move to the Middle East, and whether the switch would work for their partner is likely to be top of their priority list.
Many wives and girlfriends (WAGs) have joined their partners in Saudi, but not all have taken the plunge yet.
Mail Sport takes a look at the WAGs of some of football’s biggest stars to have moved across the globe recently.
Footballers like Cristiano Ronaldo have also had to consider whether a move to Saudi Arabia would suit their partners
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Georgina Rodriguez – Cristiano Ronaldo’s girlfriend
Let’s start with the player credited with getting the ball rolling when it comes to players joining the Saudi Pro League – Cristiano Ronaldo.
The global superstar joined Al-Nassr in December 2022 on a £175m-a-year contract, and immediately started living with his girlfriend, Georgina Rodriguez, and their children, despite Saudi law prohibiting couple that are not married from living with one another.
Ronaldo and Rodriguez were given an exemption, and appear to be enjoying their time in a new country.
They posted photos on Instagram last year showing off their lavish home with a swimming pool and their impressive car collection. There is no indication that they are considering leaving Saudi Arabia behind any time soon.
Georgina Rodriguez moved into a lavish new home with Cristiano Ronaldo last year
She posed for pictures in front of their impressive car collection
Their home also has a stunning pool that Ronaldo was seen enjoying during his free time
Taylor Ward – Riyad Mahrez’s wife
Riyad Mahrez and his wife, Taylor Ward, recently appeared on a new reality TV show called Married to the Game that will air later this month, and one clip from the show has gone viral as it showed Ward in floods of tears after her husband revealed he would be moving to Saudi Arabia.
The British model could not have been less convinced by the idea at the time, but appears to have come around to it over time.
Speaking exclusively to Mail Sport recently, Ward confirmed she had finally moved out to Jeddah after several trips back and forth to England since his summer switch, and she has been pleasantly surprised by her new surroundings.
‘So far, the experience has been amazing,’ she said. ‘There’s obviously no alcohol so I won’t be having a glass of wine! To be honest, there’s more there than I originally thought. When I went on my first trip, I saw a Nando’s. I was just like “I’m so happy they’ve got Nando’s”.
‘The vibe is just very different. It’s a lot more chilled out there, it’s quieter and calmer, whereas in Manchester life is so busy – there’s so much going on and we’re always going out for dinner and seeing friends. That’s probably what I’m missing the most, seeing family and friends rather than what the country is missing.
‘The people have been so lovely – I think that was actually a massive shock, how nice everyone has been. You can’t compare it to the UK – it’s nothing like here. I’m enjoying it so far, it just feels like I’m on holiday, I don’t feel like I’ve moved there yet.’
Taylor Ward (left) has joined Riyad Mahrez in Saudi Arabia after he left Man City last year
Ward has been pleasantly surprised by how much she has enjoyed living in the Middle East
Debora Lourenco – Ruben Neves’s wife
Former Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves has been one of the main success stories on the pitch since moving to Saudi Arabia, with his team Al-Hilal seven points clear at the top of the table and yet to lose in the league this season.
And things are also going well for him off the pitch, with his wife, Debora Lourenco, loving life after leaving England behind.
Lourenco posted an Instagram story of her daughter riding a bike shortly after their move last summer alongside the caption: ‘We live in a place where we can give them all the freedom and make friends from all over the world. How nice to see them grow up like this.’
She has continued to post photos of herself enjoying her time in Saudi Arabia, indicating that she has been won over by the country already.
Debora Lourenco (pictured) has been won over by life in Saudi Arabia already
Rebeca Tavares – Fabinho’s wife
Fabinho left Liverpool after five years at the club last summer and now plays for Al-Ittihad.
His wife, Rebeca Tavares, a former footballer herself, and their son Israel also live with him in Saudi Arabia, and have settled quickly.
Tavares has been outspoken on social media in the past, famously aiming a dig at Manchester City after thousands of Liverpool fans flocked the streets just 24 hours after they lost the 2022 Champions League final to celebrate their team’s success that season.
But she has not complained at all about moving to a new country, and looks to have embraced the Saudi culture.
She posted a photo of herself out on the streets in December with the caption: ‘Historic district, Jeddah’.
Fabinho and his wife, Rebeca Tavares (top right) are enjoying their time in Saudi Arabia with their son, Israel
Tavares looks to have tried to embrace Saudi culture since moving there with her husband
Sira Kessie – Franck Kessie’s wife
Franck Kessie has enjoyed plenty of success on the pitch in recent years, winning league titles with AC Milan and Barcelona, before leading Ivory Coast to Africa Cup of Nations glory on Sunday, as he scored in the final against Nigeria.
Things are also going well for him off the pitch with his wife, Sira, giving birth to their fourth child towards the end of 2023.
Sira’s Instagram highlights her interest in hair and beauty as she has posted a number of videos of herself getting ready for major events.
But she has also taken the time to watch her husband in action for his new team Al-Ahli this term, with Kessie netting six goals in 19 league appearances.
Sira Kessie has been to watch her husband play since he joined Al-Ahli last summer
Jordan Ozuna – Karim Benzema’s girlfriend
Karim Benzema is reportedly unhappy in Saudi Arabia after only moving there a little over six months ago, but he was unable to get a move away in January.
His girlfriend, Jordan Ozuna, is a full-time model after previously working as a Hooters waitress in Las Vegas, and she does not appear to have moved to Saudi Arabia on a permanent basis yet.
Ozuna, who had a child with Benzema last year, has regularly attended fashion shoots in European hotspots including Madrid and Paris in recent months so has not joined Benzema in Jeddah.
Benzema was also seen cosying up with his ex-wife, Chloe de Launay, while on holiday in Mauritius last month. Benzema and De Launay have two children together from their past relationship.
Jordan Ozuna has attended fashion shoots in Europe so has not moved to Saudi Arabia permanently
Larissa Pereira – Roberto Firmino’s wife
Roberto Firmino and Larissa Pereira tied the knot back in Brazil in 2017, and now have four children together.
Like Benzema, Firmino’s time in Saudi Arabia has not been a particularly happy one and he was linked with a return to England last month.
But he has had Pereira by his side to get through the difficult moments, and she posted a loved-up photo of the pair on a day out in Jeddah towards the end of last year.
Whether Firmino remains in the Middle East beyond this season remains to be seen, but there have been few complaints from Pereira thus far.
Larissa Pereira (right) posted a loved-up photo of herself with Roberto Firmino last year
Aisha Tamba – Sadio Mane’s wife
Former Liverpool star Sadio Mane, 31, married Aisha Tamba, 18, last month shortly before the Africa Cup of Nations.
They did not have long to celebrate the day, though, as Tamba returned to her school in Senegal the following day where she is currently studying ahead of some key exams this summer.
Mane teamed up with Ronaldo at Al-Nassr last summer and has 12 goals in all competitions for the club, but his new wife is yet to settle in his new environment with him.
This could change once she finishes her exams later this year, with Mane contracted to Al-Nassr until 2026.
Sadio Mane married Aisha Tamba (right) last month, but she is still studying in Senegal
This post first appeared on Daily mail
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