Riyad Mahrez is currently facing a challenging second season in Saudi Arabia following his high-profile transfer from Manchester City to Al-Ahli back in August 2023. Last season, he was a standout performer in the Pro League, leading the assist charts with 13 assists and contributing 11 goals, which helped propel his newly promoted team to a commendable third-place finish.
As the current season kicked off in August, expectations soared for Al-Ahli to contend for the title and secure silverware along the Red Sea. However, the early weeks have been disappointing, marked by an unexpected home defeat in the King’s Cup against a low-ranking second-tier team. To add to their woes, the league performance has been lackluster, with the team managing only seven points from six matches, leaving them 11 points behind the leaders.
Mahrez has found himself under the microscope as he struggles to find his form; he has yet to register any goals or assists this season. Former player Mido has weighed in on Mahrez’s fitness, while Tarik El Taib has criticized his attitude. After a recent 4-2 victory over Damac, Mahrez took to social media to share his joy about the team’s performance but revealed he has been battling bronchitis, highlighting his need for recovery to return to peak condition.
In a surprising turn, Mahrez’s comments about Al-Ahli’s lack of support in the transfer market compared to the other “Big Four” teams have raised eyebrows. The club, along with rivals Al-Ittihad, Al-Hilal, and Al-Nassr, became part of the Public Investment Fund in 2023. These remarks drew backlash, with pundits advising Mahrez to concentrate on his game, especially given his hefty transfer fee of around £30 million and a reported annual salary of about £40 million.
Had Al-Ahli’s results been more favorable, these controversies might have been sidelined. However, as the season continues, it seems their title aspirations may be slipping away. The Asian Champions League now stands as their only realistic chance for success, especially after Mahrez’s noteworthy performance in a recent match where he scored and assisted during a 2-0 victory in Dubai.
Once part of a highly successful Manchester City team, Mahrez now finds himself in a competitive Saudi landscape, where it’s crucial to avoid dropped points against the dominant Al-Hilal. Recently, Al-Hilal overcame Al-Ahli after the latter took an early lead, underscoring Al-Hilal’s remarkable record of winning 34 games in a row this year while scoring in 69 consecutive matches, showcasing their league dominance.
At this stage, Mahrez is still developing chemistry with fellow Premier League arrival Ivan Toney, who has scored twice since his transfer from Brentford. In contrast, Al-Hilal’s Aleksandar Mitrovic is in extraordinary form, racking up nine goals in six outings.
Despite the absence of Neymar, who is recovering from a cruciate ligament injury, Al-Hilal’s performance hasn’t suffered, thanks to standout players like Mitrovic, Rúben Neves, and a formidable defense anchored by Kalidou Koulibaly.
Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo, fresh off a record-setting season with 35 goals, is seeing changes at Al-Nassr following the appointment of Stefano Pioli as head coach. The team has shown improvement, demonstrating a reduced dependency on superstar talent while tightening their defensive strategies under the new leadership.
Clearly, both Al-Ahli and Mahrez have considerable work ahead if they hope to compete with the upper echelon of the league.
