On Marcelo Gallardo
's 48th birthday ,
the Doll received as a gift the news of knowing that
he will be able to continue counting on Karim Benzema at Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia,
after the French star disappeared after the 5-5 win. 2 against Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr and missed the last training sessions of last year
The former Real Madrid striker, Merengue's second all-time top scorer behind CR7 and winner of the Ballon d'Or in 2022, closed his nets at that moment and "disappeared" hours before the match his team was due to play against Al-Tai.
Now, according to information from the French newspaper
L'Équipe
, Benzema is already back in Jeddah and will resume training on Friday.
"100%, he will stay at Al-Ittihad,"
they say, relying on members of the footballer's entourage who started his career at Olympique Lyonnais.
info @lequipe
Karim Benzema is finally returning to Jeddah.
Il devrait reprendre l'entraînement ce vendredi, et «il restera à Al Ittihad à 100%» selon selons proches de el.
https://t.co/ruwgT0km1w
— hugo (@hugoguillemet) January 18, 2024
Previously, Gallardo relegated Benzema from the team, which according to his inner circle, Gato did not like at all.
"Karim had ups and downs in his sporting life and perhaps this period will be less prosperous. He also got injured, left for a few days, was away from the team due to the cyclone (in Mauritius) and returned to Saudi Arabia.
But we have seen him re-emerge from his ashes,"
defended his lawyer, Hugues Vigier, in dialogue with the television network BFM TV.
"If you remember, he didn't play much when he arrived at Real Madrid and then he became an absolutely essential player,"
added the lawyer.
In addition, he opened the door to see him change clubs.
“I must say that I would be very happy to see him play again in Lyon.
I would like to... But he has not announced it to me at the moment”, he launched.
Although a return to European football does not seem to be in his plans, the TEAMtalk media outlet assures at this time that Mikel Arteta is interested in taking Benzema on loan to Arsenal until the end of the season to definitively fight for the Premier League against Manchester City.
Alittihad squad surprises Coach Gallardo on his birthday 🎊🎂
pic.twitter.com/Co1VF75oZd
— Ittihad Club (@ittihad_en) January 18, 2024
It was a birthday gift for Gallardo, who was entertained by the team at lunch with a strawberry cake and cheers, while he blew out the candles.
He also had the famous 'little bridge' directed by him.
Marcelo Gallardo and the famous 'little bridge' for his birthday in Al Ittihad in Saudi Arabia.
The surprise that Marcelo Gallardo's son made him for his birthday
Video
Benjamin and Geraldine's birthday greeting for the Gallardo Doll.