Karim Benzema's crisis with Al-Ittihad: Conceição reveals the reasons and his stance on renewal
The absence of French star Karim Benzema, the Al-Ittihad striker, from the team's recent match against Al-Fateh has sparked widespread debate in Saudi and international sporting circles. The match, held Thursday evening as part of the Saudi Professional League, ended in a disappointing 2-2 draw, further fueling questions about the reasons behind the former Ballon d'Or winner's absence from this important fixture.
Conceição's statements and details of the crisis
In his first official response, Portuguese coach Sergio Conceição commented on the circulating news regarding the player's alleged rebellion. Conceição's statements were brief but clearly indicated a management rift, as he stated: "You should ask the club. I'm here to coach, prepare for matches, achieve results, and win titles. The rest is outside my scope of work." The Portuguese coach added, emphasizing the player's technical value: "What I can say is that Karim Benzema is an excellent professional and a fantastic player whom I am proud to coach.".
Reports, specifically those from the French network Foot Mercato, indicate that the real reason behind the absence is not technical or medical, but rather Benzema’s refusal to participate as an expression of his dissatisfaction with the offer made by the club’s management to renew his contract, which is about to expire at the end of the current season.
General context and impact of the absence of stars
This crisis comes at a sensitive time for Al-Ittihad, who are striving to maintain their technical and administrative stability to compete for domestic and continental titles. Karim Benzema is considered one of the cornerstones of the Saudi Professional League project, having joined the club in 2013 in a historic free transfer after the end of his legendary career with Real Madrid.
The absence of a player of Benzema's caliber and influence not only impacts the team's attacking prowess but also the morale of his teammates and fans. His statistics underscore his immense importance: he played 83 matches across all competitions, contributing 71 goal contributions (54 goals and 17 assists), and was instrumental in the team's league and Copa del Rey double last season.
The future of the relationship between Benzema and Al-Ittihad
This incident opens the door to widespread speculation about the future of the relationship between the French star and the Jeddah club's management. In the world of modern football, contract renewal negotiations play a pivotal role in maintaining dressing room stability. Analysts believe that Al-Ittihad's management must intervene quickly to contain the situation, especially since the team cannot afford to drop any more points in the heated league race, and having a coach as strict as Conceição requires complete discipline from all players to ensure the season's objectives are achieved.
