Karim Benzema made a big switch from Real Madrid, a 14-time Champions League champion, to Al Ittihad in Saudi Arabia during the summer of 2023.
Benzema signed a rumoured three-year contract earning an incredible £172 million annually as part of the high-profile transfer. But according to some recent reports, the 36-year-old striker may not be comfortable in his new environment.
Even though Benzema was the poster child for the Saudi Pro League and spearheaded a wave of big-name players leaving Europe, leaving Al Ittihad would not be an easy task. The complexity of the situation is highlighted by the fact that any departure would need permission from Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Sport, Al Ittihad’s coach Marcelo Gallardo, and sporting director Roman Planes.
Benzema’s supposed dissatisfaction has been reported, but it’s important to note that he hasn’t formally expressed a wish to quit Al Ittihad. His tardy return from vacation in Mauritius fueled rumours regarding his whereabouts and future plans.
Following allegations from France that Benzema had asked for a “temporary” departure from Al Ittihad, Benzema’s representatives from Manchester United and Arsenal hinted at a possible meeting with the club’s management. A potential reunion has even been connected to his old team, Lyon.
In an interview with L’Equipe, Benzema—who scored 354 goals during his fruitful 14-year tenure at Real Madrid—dismissed these rumours, calling them “completely false” and attributing them to media fabrication. The French striker claimed that the media gets more creative the greater the player.
The financial element complicates matters further, since any move may be made more difficult by Benzema’s enormous salary. The fact that Jordan Henderson left Al Ettifaq to join Ajax highlights the background.
Amid these rumours, Benzema’s goal-scoring ability may be very helpful to Manchester United and Arsenal, who are both having a difficult Premier League season.
United, who are presently ranked ninth in the rankings, has struggled to score goals, and Arsenal, who just defeated Crystal Palace 5-0, has seen fluctuations in their goal-scoring ability.
In 15 games, Benzema has nine goals and five assists at Al Ittihad. But his team remains well behind in the Saudi Pro League title contest, as Al Hilal continues to lead by a substantial 25 points over Al Ittihad and is still undefeated.
Although Benzema’s future is still up in the air due to persistent rumours, his denial of exit negotiations might put an end to them for the time being. The Saudi Pro League and any potential suitors interested in signing the seasoned French striker for the Premier League are both significantly impacted by Benzema’s decision to stay or leave Al Ittihad.
