French striker Karim Benzema is in more trouble than ever in Saudi Arabia. As controversy swirls around the player, Al-Ittihad have been keen to clarify the sneaky departure of their player, who is currently outside the Saudi kingdom.
He probably didn’t expect to experience so many difficulties. In fine form with Real Madrid last season, Karim Benzema has decided to move on after more than a dozen years in Spain. With a stratospheric offer on the table from Saudi Arabia, the former OL player will pack his bags straight away to sign for Al-Ittihad. As Real’s Ballon d’Or winner in 2022 and top scorer in 2023, Benzema will be given a rousing welcome by the fans, who see an incredible goalscorer arriving at their club.
Benzema’s difficult last few weeks
Hoping that his signing would make Al Ittihad a tough side to play against in the Saudi Pro League and in the Gulf, the many fans were soon to be disappointed. Despite scoring 13 goals in 21 appearances since his arrival last summer, Benzema will miss out on the big games. Criticised for his lack of involvement in the team, he saw his situation worsen a fortnight ago when Al Ittihad were eliminated in the semi-finals of the Club World Cup against Al Ahly of Egypt. Humiliated 3 goals to 1, the former Madrid star was to suffer an outpouring of anger from the fans for his performance, which was marred by a missed penalty.
Even though he saved his honour late on, Karim Benzema was booed off the pitch. In the aftermath, Al Ittihad lost another league match against a team from the bottom of the table. After this match, in which the 36-year-old Frenchman was replaced early by the coach because of his inability to change things, the Saudis gave him a humiliating and offensive nickname. Ben-Hazima (the son of defeat) quickly spread throughout the kingdom as the new name for Benzema, who was criticised for not being able to perform like Cristiano Ronaldo, who shone so brightly with Al Nassr.
Humiliation against Al Nassr and an intriguing start
As if that were not enough, Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo crossed swords on Matchday 18 of the Pro League. Things got even worse for Al-Ittihad in this match, as the Portuguese striker scored twice to send them crashing out of the competition. The man nicknamed Ben-Hazima was at fault for Al Nassr’s first goal, conceding the penalty that CR7 converted. After the match, the French striker deactivated his Instagram account after an unprecedented outpouring of anger from fans, who insulted him copiously.
In the midst of all the hullabaloo, the Saudi press announced that Karim Benzema had been sent off after missing one of his team’s training sessions. Many believe that the player is once again in conflict with his coach, who has just taken up his post after Espirito Santo was sacked. Others believe that the player, who is having problems with Al Ittihad, has skipped training and left Saudi Arabia because of the criticism, and is therefore in danger of not being able to continue with his club between now and the winter.
There’s more news this Sunday. According to several Saudi media outlets, including Asharq al-Awsat, which are now relaying statements made by an Al-Ittihad manager, Benzema did not leave without permission. “Benzema requested three days’ leave due to special circumstances. He travelled to Madrid on Thursday evening. Karim is a very professional player and remains attached to the team,” explained the manager, speaking on condition of anonymity.
That much is clear now. The crisis is still palpable, but the player is not complicating his situation with a misbehaviour, according to the club manager. Is this simply a way of calming things down until the crisis is sorted out? We await the outcome of this episode, which must be difficult for the player who abandoned the honour and glory of Real Madrid to line his own pockets before hanging up his boots.
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