Riyad Mahrez has treated his Al-Ahli teammates to custom Rolex watches after they successfully defended their Asian Champions League title. The Algerian winger, who earns a staggering £875,000 per week, spent approximately £17,000 on each timepiece, which were inscribed with the players' names and featured the club's dark green colours.
Lavish Gesture for Title Win
Al-Ahli secured a 1-0 victory over Machida Zelvia at the Al-Inma Stadium, despite being reduced to ten men. The win marked their second consecutive Asian Champions League triumph, prompting celebrations that included Mahrez's generous gift. Images shared on Instagram showed close-ups of the expensive watches both inside and outside their boxes.
Teammates Contribute
While Mahrez, the club's highest earner with an annual salary of £44 million, could easily afford the gesture, reports from Saudi Arabia indicate that some teammates refused to let him bear the entire cost. Goalkeeper Edouard Mendy and Turkish defender Merih Demiral also contributed to cover a portion of the expense.
Mahrez shared pictures of the joyous celebrations on social media, including a photo with his wife Taylor Ward on the pitch. She captioned the image: 'Champions for a second year, so special!'
Reflecting on Victory
Reflecting on the match, Mahrez said: 'It was difficult for us again. We like to make it difficult for ourselves. Ten against 11 is nearly impossible, I don't know how we found the strength and the energy. After the red card we stuck together, we fought more, we ran more until we scored.'
Mahrez, who won the Champions League with Manchester City in 2023, has been a key player for Al-Ahli since his move from the Premier League. The custom Rolex gifts are a testament to his appreciation for his teammates' efforts in securing another continental title.
