SAUDI PRO LEAGUE
Former Real Madrid star Karim Benzema wants to leave Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad on loan
The French striker has been linked with moves to Premier League duo Arsenal and Chelsea, as well as first club Lyon.
There’s been a new development regarding Karim Benzema’s future at Al Ittiudad. Citing sources close to the Saudi Pro League club, AFP have reported the former Real Madrid striker, who has been frozen out of the first team by head coach Marcelo Gallardo, feels under too much pressure in his current surroundings and is looking for a temporary move away.
Benzema not in the right frame of mind
According to the French news agency, the 36-year-old doesn’t feel as if he’s in the right frame of mind to perform at his best and is prepared to go out on loan for the rest of the season. The Jeddah-based side have already offered Benzema the chance to join another Saudi club on a temporary basis.
Al Ittihad coach Gallardo unwilling to work with Frenchman
Press in Saudi Arabia claimed on Tuesday that Gallardo wasn’t prepared to give any ground and had refused to allow the Frenchman to rejoin the rest of the team at their mid-season training camp in Dubai. Benzema didn’t travel to the United Arab Emirates as he was taking some time off in Mauritius and has been training alone in Saudi Arabia after returning.
According to Saudi media outlet Arriyadiyah, Al Ittihad bosses are working against the clock with both Gallardo and Benzema in an effort to find a truce ahead of the Saudi Pro League and Asian Champions League restarting in February. For now, though, the Argentine has refused to budge and doesn’t want the striker back with the squad.
Premier League giants interested in Benzema
The 2022 Ballon d’Or winner has been linked in recent days with moves to Premier League duo Arsenal and Chelsea, as well as French side Lyon, where he started his professional career. Any potential move would be difficult to complete, both because of Benzema’s huge salary and Al Ittihad’s reluctance to let him leave for free, while AFP add there is no chance the attacker will be allowed to leave Saudi Arabia in the winter transfer window.
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