Karim Benzema’s time at Al-Ittihad wrapped up in chaos, just like so many big-money soccer tales do. The guy who lifted the 2022 Ballon d’Or rolled into Jeddah back in 2023 on a deal north of $100 million a year, fresh off captaining Real Madrid to glory.
Fans pictured him lighting up the Saudi Pro League, but injuries nagged, form dipped, and club tensions boiled over. By early 2026, with six months left on his contract, everything blew up. He sat out a key draw against Al-Fateh, trained solo, and shocked everyone by signing with crosstown rival Al-Hilal before deadline day.
Lowball Offer Lights the Fuse
Talks for a new deal started simple enough, but Al-Ittihad’s proposal hit Benzema like a sucker punch. Sources say the Saudi Pro League, which oversees big contracts for state-backed clubs, floated terms with basically no base pay, leaving earnings to shaky image rights and sponsorships.
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For a 38-year-old legend with eight goals in 14 league games that season, it screamed insult. He told coach staffers hours before the Al-Fateh clash he wouldn’t play, effectively going on strike.
This standoff capped months of frustration. Benzema dealt with muscle pulls that sidelined him often since day one, plus flak from local media over spotty output. Whispers swirled about clashes with teammates like Abderrazzak Hamdallah and even coach Marcelo Gallardo.
Al-Ittihad sat sixth in the table after that draw, with their captain and star striker Saleh Al-Shehri filling in up top. Benzema felt the club undervalued his sweat after helping snag the league title and King’s Cup prior. No wonder he bounced.
Saudi Dream Turns Nightmare Quickly
Benzema chased comfort in Saudi Arabia from the jump, drawn to the culture and massive paycheck after two decades grinding in Europe. Early on, he raved about Jeddah fans and settling in smoothly. But the league’s grind exposed his aging frame, limiting him to bursts of brilliance amid long absences.
Al-Ittihad bet big on him as their marquee import, part of the kingdom’s soccer splash to grab global eyes. Yet when push came to shove over cash, loyalty vanished.
The move to Al-Hilal stung extra, a rare midseason hop between Pro League heavyweights without a fee, since his deal expired soon anyway. New reports detail behind-the-scenes haggling and total communication breakdown with Ittihad brass.
He even sparred with a journalist post-move, skipping goodbyes to fans, firing back at exit rumors. For the club, it leaves a gaping hole up front and raises questions about holding superstars long-term. Benzema links with a title-chasing squad now, chasing silverware in his late-career sprint.
Power Plays Reshape Pro League Paths
Al-Ittihad scrambles post-Benzema, eyeing fixes like keeping N’Golo Kanté amid Fenerbahçe links while plotting a squad refresh.
Saudi soccer keeps drawing names despite the mess, with Mo Salah now being floated as their next prize. Benzema’s fall spotlights the gamble: fat contracts lure icons, but injury risks and boardroom games can sour fast.
He lands at Al-Hilal with fresh motivation, stats showing he still packs a punch when fit. Fans divide sharply, some branding him mercenary, others cheering a vet who picked pride over a raw deal.
This shakeup tweaks league balances, proving cash alone won’t lock down egos this size. Watch his early Hilal games; they might spark one last hot streak or signal the slowdown. Either way, Benzema wrote his Saudi chapter on his terms.
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