Erling Haaland and Jack Grealish recently bid farewell to their former teammate Riyad Mahrez after the Algerian winger’s move to Saudi Arabia. Mahrez, who had been playing for Manchester City in the English Premier League, signed with Al-Nassr FC for a reported fee of £25 million.
Haaland and Grealish, who both play for Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City respectively, took to social media to express their sadness at Mahrez’s departure. The trio had formed a close bond during their time together at Manchester City, and their friendship extended off the pitch as well.
Haaland posted a picture of himself, Grealish, and Mahrez on his Instagram account, alongside the caption: “Gonna miss you my bro. All the best in Saudi Arabia, I know you’ll smash it.” Grealish also shared a picture of the three of them, along with the message: “Good luck to my brother @riyadmahrez26. Gonna miss you mate, keep shining.”
Mahrez had been a key player for Manchester City since joining the club in 2018. He was an integral part of the team that won the Premier League title in 2019 and 2021, as well as the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup. His departure is a blow to the team, who will now have to find a replacement for him in the transfer market.
For Mahrez, the move to Al-Nassr FC represents a new challenge in his career. The Saudi Arabian club is one of the biggest and most successful teams in the country, and Mahrez will be expected to play a significant role in their title ambitions.
Overall, the farewell messages from Haaland and Grealish highlight the strong bonds that can be formed between football players, both on and off the pitch. While the transfer market can bring about changes to team dynamics, the friendships that are formed during a player’s career can last a lifetime. Mahrez’s departure from Manchester City is a reminder of this, and fans will be eagerly watching to see how he performs in his new team.