“I can’t win alone!”, Benzema calls for help from Saudi Arabia

There is indeed a Benzema case in Saudi Arabia. After the draw between his team Al Ittihad and Al Taawon on Friday evening (0-0) in the league, the French striker (36 years old, 97 caps) was questioned by a journalist, who asked him why his performances were below those of which he was capable at Real Madrid. “It’s not the same game, they’re not the same players. I need help on the ground! replies Benzema. I can't win a match alone. I need other players, I need a lot of things. It's different."

Straightforward, Karim Benzema criticizes his teammates for not being up to standard. Arriving this summer in the Gulf after numerous seasons in Spain (2009-2023), the 2022 Ballon d'Or is criticized for its performance. “He wastes very easy opportunities and seems to have lost the desire to play football,” said Saudi sports journalist Abdel Karim Al Jasser on the public channel Al-Ekhbariya at the end of 2023. This winter, “KB9” was even temporarily removed from the team and rumors were circulating about a return to Europe.

In 26 matches in all competitions, the native of the Lyon region nevertheless displays honorable statistics with 12 goals and 8 assists. But it is far from Cristiano Ronaldo, author of 35 goals with Al Nassr, second in the championship behind Al Hilal. The Al Ittihad of Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kanté is 4th.