The days pass and the situation of Karim Benzema at Al-Ittihad remains very unclear... The latest snub to date for the five-time winner of the Champions League with Real Madrid, he was not even selected by his club to play... the Asian Champions League!
The regulations only authorize five players not from Asia to appear on the lists of competing teams.
And Argentine coach Marcelo Gallardo, with whom relations have been strained for several weeks, preferred to include the names of Ahmed Hegazy, N'Golo Kanté, Fabinho, Romarinho and Abderrazak Hamdallah to face the Uzbek club Navbahor Namangan on Thursday, February 15. in the 8th final.
The Saudi team had however communicated a few days ago on the fitness of the 2022 Ballon d'or, who is still officially the captain of the team.
“Be ready, the legend is back” posted the community manager on the X account, along with a photo of the former Lyonnais in the weight room.
Benzema is going through a more than complicated period since his extremely late return from Mauritius and a missed recovery course.
On his return to Jeddah, the former French international had words with his coach before being asked to leave a training session.
After a month and a half of silence on social networks, the former Madrid striker has nevertheless proclaimed in recent days his love for a destination with which he has linked himself until 2026.
Among the eight foreigners authorized in the championship
“Being in Saudi Arabia is a new challenge that I like: a long-term project in a Muslim country,” he explained to the magazine GQ Middle East, of which he appeared on the cover.
I am not only a football player in Saudi Arabia, I am also an ambassador.
I am here to bring in great European players in the near future, even if there are already great ones in the Saudi championship.
Our challenge is to raise it to the same level as the European leagues.
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Many Saudi media, however, have reported discomfort for the Frenchman, who had had a good start to the season before getting injured.
Despite several avenues mentioned, Benzema remained in Jeddah, where he trained away from his teammates.
A sufficient effort for Gallardo to put him on the list of eight foreigners authorized in the championship.
But not for the Asian Champions League…