SAUDI PRO LEAGUE
Former Saint Etienne and PSG coach Larqué: “Benzema regrets Saudi switch”
The former Saint Etienne and PSG player commented on Benzema’s situation with rumours suggesting the striker is unhappy with Jeddah club Al Ittihad.
Karim Benzema is experiencing a tough time with the Jeddah Tigers of Al Ittihad. The team are struggling in the domestic league and were solidly beaten by Al Ahly at the quarter final stage of the FIFA Club World Cup. Three back-to-back Roshn Saudi League defeats have led to anger among the club’s fans and much of that has been directed at star striker Benzema.
A few days ago the news broke that Benzema had left Jeddah and was not in the squad for the last game of 2023 which came as a major surprise for the press and the local fans. Hours later it emerged that the player had traveled to Madrid with permission from his club and its coach, Marcelo Gallardo and ultimately Al Ittihad’s game was called off due to flooding in the north of the country.
But Benzema’s situation in Saudi Arabia still generates comments with former French player and coach Jean-Michel Larqué (now a sports commentator) offering his view on what he feels the veteran forward is experiencing claiming that Benzema has tarnished his career moving to Saudi Arabia and that the player regrets the switch.
“Benzema regrets it. Of course everyone does what they want, but making an exit from the game is important for top players. I remember that he had expressed his desire to finish his career at Real Madrid. He had the opportunity. “He could have stopped by leaving through the front door, after having secured titles and winning the Ballon d’Or. He lost himself by joining an artificial championship,” Larqué stated during his intervention on RMC television.
“Benzema continually expressed his desire to finish his career at Real Madrid and he had the opportunity to do that”
“Sometimes I watch Benzema play in the Saudi Arabian league and think that he no longer has the legs. The decline of a career is a terrible thing. It’s a lost battle and it looks like Benzema isn’t motivated anymore. It’s a lost battle and I feel like he could have would down his career through the front door. He didn’t, it’s a shame”.
Karim Benzema’s contract with Al Ittihad runs through to 2026 with the veteran French striker expected to pocket almost €300M over three seasons.