Karim Benzema wants to leave his Saudi club Al-Ittihad following a disagreement with management, a club source told AFP on Tuesday.
The 36-year-old former Real Madrid striker had a “raging” meeting with the club and its Argentine coach, Marcelo Gallardo, last Friday, according to the source.
Benzema informed his coach and club management that “he doesn’t feel he is able to give his best because of the current pressure at Ittihad”.
“Benzema asked to leave Ittihad temporarily to change the atmosphere,” the source added.
Al-Ittihad offered to loan the French striker to another Saudi Pro League club but he has refused, the source added.
Contacted by AFP, Benzema’s entourage declined to comment.
The 2022 Ballon d’Or winner, who was one of the most high-profile acquisitions in the Saudi league last year and is reputedly earning 100 million euros ($109 million) every season, returned to the team 17 days after the mid-season break.
According to the source, he has been practicing alone in Jeddah because he has been barred from rejoining his teammates at a training camp in Dubai for “discipline reasons”.
According to reports in England, Premier League team Chelsea is interested in signing Benzema on loan during the current transfer window.
According to a representative for Lyon, his former club in France, they could not afford his salaries.
He said a possible loan deal for Benzema “had never been studied or considered”, adding: “It is not at all within Lyon’s financial means.”
According to a source close to the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), which controls Al-Ittihad and three other Saudi clubs, “there is no option that Benzema leaves this month”.
Benzema has nine goals in the Saudi Pro League this season, but he trails Cristiano Ronaldo, who has 20 for Al-Nassr.
Al-Ittihad are eighth in the division following three consecutive losses. Of the four PIF-owned teams, they have conceded the most goals while scoring the fewest.
The league is due to resume on February 7.
Former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson left Al-Ettifaq to join Dutch club Ajax last week, marking another high-profile addition to the Saudi league.
Henderson emphasized that his choice to return to Europe was made for football reasons, as he wants to be considered for England’s Euro 2024 squad.
His family apparently struggled to settle in the Gulf, and his reputation as an advocate for LGBTQ rights was tainted by his migration to Saudi Arabia.