Karim Benzema, the French star in the ranks of Saudi club Al-Ittihad, indicated the possibility of staying with the team after his current contract expires.
Benzema’s contract with Al-Ittihad expires at the end of the current season, after joining the team from Real Madrid in the summer of 2023, after a career full of achievements and titles, including the Ballon d’Or.
In an interview with the Spanish newspaper “AS”, Benzema touched on his future with Al-Ittihad and his future in the world of football in general.
When asked about the end of his contract with Al-Ittihad, he replied: “I am still unable to say for sure whether I will stay or leave, it depends on many factors. I will be thirty-eight years old next December/January, and I see myself playing football for another two years.”
He added: “Physically, I am fine, and I work hard and perform well.”
He continued: “I love football and enjoy it, and we will see what happens in the future, and what the club’s opinion is. I like to talk face to face and know their opinions. The best thing for me is to stay here, but not just to stay for another year or two.”
He added, “After spending 3 years here, I think the level of football in the Saudi League is constantly improving.”
Departure offers
Benzema revealed that he has received offers during the current period from European clubs, stressing that he will study all offers to carefully choose his future.
He added: “I must feel comfortable, I feel comfortable here and I have everyone’s affection, but we will see, they ask me for things and I give them things, and everything is mutual, but what is certain is that I will not retire from football or stop playing within 6 months.”
European interest
It is worth mentioning that press reports have linked Benzema’s name with a return to Europe through several clubs, most notably Benfica of Portugal, especially with José Mourinho at the helm, in addition to interest from Fenerbahçe of Turkey.
Despite this news, Benzema did not comment on his future until he recently spoke about various aspects of his career with “Al-Ameed”.
A distinguished career
The numbers indicate that Benzema’s performance with Al-Ittihad was excellent, as he scored 43 goals and made 17 in 71 matches in various competitions.
Last season, Benzema won two titles with Al-Ittihad, namely the Roshn Saudi League and the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup, after a disappointing first season that did not witness any coronation.
With the start of the current season, Al-Ittihad’s level declined, which led to the dismissal of French coach Laurent Blanc and the appointment of Portuguese Sergio Conceicao, who is also suffering in the league, as the team has not achieved any victory under his leadership so far.
Benzema is a great technical addition
Karim Benzema represents a qualitative addition to Al-Ittihad since joining the Saudi League, as he arrived with great expectations from the fans given his history with Real Madrid. Despite this, his career with the team has witnessed ups and downs between great individual moments and difficulties in adapting to the pace of the competition. However, the French striker remains one of the most important players in the squad, thanks to his great experience and ability to play multiple roles on the pitch.
Al-Ittihad relied on Benzema not only as a striker, but as a leader of the attacking line and an additional playmaker, as he drops back to receive the ball, build the attack and link the lines. This characteristic has made him influential in creating chances, especially when used behind the striker or as a mobile striker, where he shows accuracy in passing and a good reading of his teammates’ movements. Despite the decline in his scoring rate compared to his last seasons in Europe, his impact in creating spaces and attracting defenders has not been affected.
Benzema faced physical challenges, such as injuries and fluctuating fitness, in addition to changing coaches and multiple playing styles, which affected his full harmony with the team. However, he showed in many periods his ability to turn few chances into goals, in addition to his contribution in crucial moments thanks to his great experience and his smart handling of pressure.
He also played an important role off the field, whether in the dressing room or by passing on his experience to young players, in an attempt to strengthen the winning mentality within the team. Despite the controversy surrounding his future, Benzema remains a big name that represents technical and marketing value for Al-Ittihad, and his ability to make a difference remains present whenever the conditions are right for him to regain his best levels.
