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10 months ago
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The Frenchman will not attend his team’s training camp in Dubai, although reports suggest the striker was unable to leave Mauritius due to a cyclone.
A new chapter opens in the tumultuous story of Karim Benzema and his Al Ittihad team, based in Jeddah. The French player will not travel with the rest of his teammates to the pre-season mini-camp in Dubai (UAE), fueling speculation about the player’s future with the Saudi Pro League club.
Benzema’s 2023 ended badly in Saudi Arabia. The Lyon striker deleted his social media accounts after coming under heavy criticism from Tigres fans following a string of poor performances which culminated in defeats to Al Ahly at the FIFA Club World Cup. FIFA and a 2-5 home defeat against Riyadh giants Al Nassr. The player was absent before the last domestic away match of the year (the match was ultimately suspended due to bad weather) as he was traveling to Madrid, with permission from the Saudi club.
Benzema will therefore miss the mid-season training camp that Gallardo organized for his team 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 club from Dubai. The team will then return to Jeddah on January 30.
The Saudi press maintains that Benzema was on vacation in Mauritius when a cyclone hit the archipelago, preventing him from arriving in time for the start of the trip to the Emirates, but images posted by the club on its platforms social shows showing Gallardo, Kanté, Fabinho, Abderrazak Hamdallah, Romarinho… but without Benzema are eloquent.
Benzema’s situation is a hot potato for Ramón Planes, recently appointed sporting director of the club. Planes will have to manage the situation of the native of Bron, who signed a contract with the Tigres until 2026, while rumors multiply about the transfer of Ángel Correa, the current player of Atlético de Madrid, to the Jeddah club. In February, Al Ittihad will return to the Roshn Saudi League as well as the round of 16 of the Asian Champions League. Amid this confusion, the rumor of Benzema’s return to Olympique Lyonnais, where the Frenchman broke through before leaving the club in 2009 to sign for Real Madrid, is becoming more and more insistent.
Written by:
Manu Tournoux is a passionate and knowledgeable football enthusiast with a special focus on French football. Born and raised in France, Manu discovered his love for the beautiful game at a young age and developed a deep understanding of the ins and outs of "Le Championnat." His French roots and extensive experience in football journalism have made him an invaluable asset to the French Football Weekly team. As an author for the website, Manu's expertise includes not only in-depth analysis of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches but also insightful profiles of up-and-coming talents, detailed transfer news, and engaging coverage of the French national team. His captivating writing style and undeniable passion for the game have earned him a loyal following among our readers. When he's not crafting engaging articles for French Football Weekly, Manu enjoys attending live matches whenever he can, exploring football culture in various French cities, and engaging in spirited debates with fellow fans. Feel free to follow Manu on Twitter and interact with him as he shares his expert opinions, insights, and love for French football.
