Karim Benzema’s discomfort is growing. Criticized for his performances and attitude in recent weeks, the former French international has even deserted social media. The day after Al-Ittihad’s heavy defeat to Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr (5-2), KB9 actually deactivated his Instagram account. A seemingly insignificant gesture at first glance, but it still sparked a lot of reactions.
If the Saudi press has mentioned a desire to take distance on the part of Benzema, some journalists have echoed the player’s discomfort. This Friday, Arriyadiyah reveals even more about the situation faced by the 2022 Ballon d’Or winner. According to the local media, Benzema has indeed left Jeddah for “personal” reasons in recent hours. He has thus missed the last two training sessions of his club, and is out for the match scheduled for Saturday against Al Taee.
Benzema’s absence from the squad has raised questions about his future at Al-Ittihad. The French striker has scored 12 goals and provided five assists in 22 appearances for the club since joining in the summer. However, his performances have not been up to his usual standards, and Al-Ittihad are currently 22 points behind leaders Al Hilal in the Saudi Professional League.
It is possible that Benzema is simply taking a break from football to deal with his personal issues. However, it is also possible that he is considering leaving Al-Ittihad. The club’s manager, Nuno Espírito Santo, has been critical of Benzema in the past, and it is possible that the two men are no longer on good terms.
Only time will tell what the future holds for Benzema. However, it is clear that he is going through a difficult time in his career.
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