Riyad Mahrez’s ex says Harry Kane’s wife ‘had a lucky escape’ over his failed Manchester City move

Rita Johal, the ex-wife of Manchester City attacker Riyad Mahrez, believes Harry Kane’s failed move to the club could prove a good thing for his life away from the game.

Johal has extraordinarily blamed Mahrez’s move to City for the breakdown of their marriage and claimed the Algerian struggled at times with the pressure of playing for a team of that stature.

Mahrez joined City in 2018 for a £60m transfer fee from Leicester, where he had played a central role in their Premier League title triumph in 2016. Kane, meanwhile, had been angling for a move to City all summer only to publicly announce last week that he will remain at boyhood club Tottenham.

Rita Johal (pictured with Riyad Mahrez in 2017) says her ex-husband’s 2018 move to Manchester City from Leicester caused the breakdown of their marriage

Mahrez and Johal pictured in 2016, celebrating Leicester’s Premier League title triumph

Harry Kane and his partner Katie Goodland pictured after the footballer was awarded an MBE in 2019 – this summer, Kane attempted to force a move from Tottenham to Manchester City

‘I can’t comment on other people’s lives but moving there changed my husband,’ Johal told The Sun. ‘Harry Kane’s wife (Katie Goodland) probably had a lucky escape. Others should be careful.

‘Riyad let fame go to his head. He changed when he went to Manchester City. 

‘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.’

Johal and Mahrez met in London in 2014 and married after just four months. They have a daughter together.

Mahrez is now engaged to Taylor Ward, an influencer who is the daughter of Ashley Ward, a former City footballer. 

They announced their engagement on June 21, with Ward writing on Instagram: ‘There’s no one I’d rather do this life with, here’s to a lifetime of us. I can’t wait to grow old together. I love you.’

Mahrez is now engaged to influencer Taylor Ward and they announced the news in June

Kane and his partner Katie Goodland are childhood sweethearts who married in 2019 and have three children together. 

Speaking to Esquire in 2015, Kane spoke of how they prefer the quieter life away from the cameras and that it had been strange adjusting to his then growing of level of fame.

‘We went to school together, so she’s seen my whole career,’ Kane said. ‘Of course, she’s finding it a little crazy. 

‘I think she’s even been in the papers a couple of times taking the dogs out.’

But Kane is now back in action with Tottenham and accepted that he is staying at the club

Mahrez pictured in action for City in their 5-0 victory over Arsenal on Saturday

Mahrez has been a key figure in City’s success under the guidance of Pep Guardiola and has won two Premier League titles, two FA Cups and three League Cups in his time in Manchester.

Kane has since made his return to the Tottenham team, scoring twice in their midweek Europa Conference League play-off against Portuguese side Pacos de Ferreira.

He also played 90 minutes in the 1-0 win over Watford on Sunday, which moved Tottenham top of the Premier League table with three wins from their first three matches.