After capping off his illustrious European career, Karim Benzema joined Saudi side Al Ittihad last year. The move, however, seems to have not paid off and the Ballon d’Or winner now reportedly wants to leave the Saudi Pro League outfit. Marred by fitness issues and frequent injury trouble, Benzema’s stint in the Middle East has been quite unimpressive. Moreover, a reported feud between Benzema and Al Ittihad coach Marcelo Gallardo made the situation worse for the Real Madrid football. The Frenchman was left out of Al Ittihad’s squad for their AFC Champions League fixture with Uzbekistani side Navbahor earlier this year amid a strained relationship with Gallardo, as per an ESPN source.
It is now being learnt that Karim Benzema is probably looking to leave Al Ittihad. As per Relevo, Benzema has conveyed his “disappointment” during his recent trip to Madrid as he is not impressed with the lack of competitiveness in the Saudi Pro League. Shoddy facilities and a perceived lack of professionalism are also some of the reasons that reportedly Benzema considers important for a top-flight tournament.
As per a report published by Goal, Karim Benzema acknowledges that the terms of his contract, which will last until 2026 and is worth €200 million, can certainly make his departure tricky.
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In 2023, Karim Benzema completed his switch to Al Ittihad just two days after playing his last game for his former side Real Madrid. Benzema joined the Spanish giants in 2009 from French football club Lyon. The 36-year-old left Real Madrid after enjoying a glorious 14-year stint at the Santiago Bernabeu.
At Real Madrid, Benzema succeeded in winning five Champions Leagues, four LaLiga trophies and three Copas del Rey titles. Benzema made 648 appearances and is second on Real Madrid’s all-time goalscoring list with 354 strikes. Only Cristiano Ronaldo is ahead on this elite list of Real Madrid goal-scorers.
It was learnt that Karim Benzema’s former side Real Madrid were helping the French international in treating a recurring injury. “Karim Benzema is undergoing further examinations in Real Madrid’s clinic with his former doctor in Spain, who supervised his care in previous years,” Al Ittihad said in a statement.
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“The consultations were arranged between Ittihad’s medical teams and Real Madrid regarding Benzema’s injuries, which caused him to miss key matches this season. Benzema has already left for Spain and is expected to return next week,” the statement added.
Having joined Al Ittihad last year, Karim Benzema has so far registered 16 goals and nine assists across all competitions.
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