Manchester City ace Riyad Mahrez is reportedly furious after heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder flirted with his ex-model wife Rita in a nightclub.
Friends say the pair were “chatting intently” at Wilder’s VIP table in the trendy Manchester nightspot, popular among big-spending footballers and WAGS.
“They were chatting intently, laughing and joking. You could see there was chemistry there and a real connection,” a source told The Sun. “But because of where it was, a lot of people noticed how well they seemed to be getting along.
“It’s a club full of footballers and Wags, which even some of Riyad’s team-mates go to. Rita was actually on a night out with Riyad’s sisters who she really gets on with.
“And they did not appear to be happy with what was going on. One even seemed to go and get Rita, to take her away from Deontay, who was of course trying to keep her with him.”
Reports of the pair’s encounter at LIv’s nightclub quickly made their way back to the Algerian winger, who is a Muslim non-drinker who eschews the typical footballer lifestyle.
Sources said he was “devastated” to hear how Wilder, the WBC champ and father-of-eight who is known for his freakish punching power, seemed to hit it off with Rita so quickly.
According to the source, Wilder spotted Rita from across the club and had one of his entourage invite her over to the table to meet him.
She knew who he was but wasn’t starstruck and soon the pair were enjoying an in depth conversation, in full view of Mahrez’s teammates and other revellers.
“Word soon got back to Riyad about what had happened. He knew about it by early the next morning. Riyad was shocked and a bit upset about it — and he couldn’t get his head around what was going on,” the source added.
Rita – who married Mahrez, 28, in a secret but lavish ceremony in August 2015 – met the Wilder at the club in late August.
The following day, Wilder, who scored a controversial draw against Manchester’s Tyson Fury in December, was spotted with Manchester United captain Paul Pogba.
Mahrez became City’s record signer in July 2018 when they splashed £60 million on the Leicester City talisman, who helped the midlands club win their first PL title.
He has two young children with Rita, after meeting her on London’s Oxford Street.
Rita, from Kent, has 372,000 Instagram followers, including Wilder.
She follows just 50 people on Instagram – including Wilder.
Wilder, who is 6ft 7ins, is from Tuscaloon, Alabama, is engaged to US model Telli Swift – star of TV show WAGS Atlanta. She is the mother of one of his children.
Undefeated Wilder has won 41 professional bouts and is set to rematch Fury next year.
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