Al-Ittihad: Is Benzema Already on His Way Out?

Karim Benzema is facing turmoil at Al-Ittihad as he finds himself in conflict with his coach, raising questions about his future.

According to the Saudi media outlet « Asharq Al-Aswat, » French international Karim Benzema is currently in a dispute with his coach, Nuno Espírito Santo. The reason? The Portuguese coach seems hesitant to include Karim Benzema in his starting lineup, as he believes that KB9’s playing style does not align with his vision.

Karim Benzema has reportedly spoken with a club official to express his discomfort and the feeling of being « treated unprofessionally by his coach. »

Another point of contention between the two parties revolves around the captain’s armband. According to information gathered by Asharq Al-Aswat, during negotiations, Benzema had agreed to take on the role of captain due to his experience and status. However, Nuno Espírito Santo rejected this request and instead chose to give the captaincy to Romarinho, a club legend, as well as Ahmed Sharahili.

The situation has escalated further, as evidenced by Karim Benzema’s absence from the last training session. This absence was confirmed by photos posted on the club’s official Instagram account. These persistent tensions could potentially jeopardize Nuno Espirito Santo’s position as a coach or lead to Benzema’s departure. However, the latter outcome appears less likely.