'Post-football is difficult': Beye's awkward exit on Benzema's future XXL contract in Saudi Arabia

Lunar words. And clearly above ground. If the choice of Karim Benzema to sign in Saudi Arabia, after 14 years under the colors of Real Madrid, belongs to him, the argument chosen by Habib Beye is confusing. The Red Star coach, a football consultant on Canal, gave his opinion on the decision of the Ballon d'Or 2022 who should sign a two-year contract of 200M€ net. What made react, even annoyed.

“When you have won 40 and you can win 200, it's not the same thing, argues the former OM defender. At 35, you also have to think about the fact that for a footballer, retraining is difficult, like post-football. You have to realize that you have a family and when you have that check, it is difficult, even if you are at the highest level, to refuse. Today, I am not Karim Benzema, hats off to have made this career, and to go on a challenge with conditions impossible to refuse. »

Habib Beye, 45, talks about "the difficult retraining" and the fact that Benzema has to shelter his family, which is necessarily irrelevant as the Real Madrid striker for 14 years already has enough to support dozens of generation. Was he referring to his personal case or that of a footballer with a more discreet career? Because it is true that low profile professionals have a much less radiant post-career than the stars of this sport. Still, its formulation highlights an above-ground discourse, which has been the target of criticism on social networks. That Karim Benzema decides to leave Madrid to sign the contract of his life at 35, in a golden early retirement in Saudi Arabia, is one thing, but to say that he accepts in anticipation of a "difficult after football" is very far of the truth. For in the end, a real clumsiness on the part of the star consultant of Canal.