SAUDI ARABIA
Benzema ‘trapped’ in Mauritius and fails to show back at Al-Ittihad
The Frenchman will not be involved with his team in their Dubai training camp, although reports suggest that the striker was unable to leave Mauritius due to a cyclone.
Another chapter unfolds in the history of Karim Benzema and his Jeddah based Al Ittihad side. The French player will not travel with the rest of his teammates to the mini-preseason camp in Dubai (UAE), with increased speculation about the player’s future with the Saudi Pro League side.
Benzema’s 2023 ended badly in Saudi after the Lyon born striker deleted his social media accounts after he came under heavy criticism from Tigers fans following a series of poor performances which culminated in defeats to Al Ahly at the FIFA Club World Cup and a 2-5 home defeat to Riyadh giants Al Nassr. The player was absent ahead of the last domestic away game of the year (the game was finally suspended due to adverse weather) as he travelled Madrid, although with permission from the Saudi club.
Now Benzema will miss the mid-season camp that Gallardo has organised for his squad in Dubai. Al Ittihad will play two friendly matches, against Al Bataeh Club on January 24 and four days later, on January 28, against Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Club. The team will then return to Jeddah on January 30.
Saudi press maintain that Benzema was on vacation in Mauritius when a cyclone hit the archipelago, preventing him from arriving on time for the start of the trip to the Emirates but the images posted by the club on their social platforms featuring Gallardo, Kanté, Fabinho, Abderrazak Hamdallah, Romarinho...but without Benzema are telling.
Benzema’s situation is a hot potato for Ramón Planes with the Spaniard recently appointed as the club’s new sports director. Planes will have to deal with the Benzema situation, who has a contract in place with the Tigres until 2026 as rumours grow that current Atletico Madrid player Ángel Correa is poised for a move to the Jeddah based outfit. In February, Al Ittihad return to Roshn Saudi League action along with their Asian Champions League Round of 16 clash.
In the midst of this confusion is the growing rumour that Benzema will be returning to Olympique Lyon, the team where the Frenchman broke through before leaving the club in 2009 to sign for Real Madrid.