A controversial situation has arisen at Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad: team striker Karim Benzema temporarily suspended his participation in club matches due to disagreements over a new contract.
According to sources, the club's management has offered the 38-year-old French star a new deal. However, the biggest "obstacle" in the proposal is the salary issue: it is said that the amount of remuneration in the new contract has been significantly reduced compared to the current agreement. Benzema's current contract expires in June 2026.
The figures surrounding this topic also capture the attention of fans. Earlier, journalist Tankredi Palmeri reported that Benzema will receive a salary of €200 million per year under the existing agreement. Against such a backdrop, the very word "reduction" is also causing interesting discussions.
Karim Benzema joined Al-Ittihad in 2023 and won the national championship with the team in the 2025 season. That is, he is not just a "name" in this project - he is also a figure who contributed to the result.
Of course, a large part of Benzema is known to sports fans through Real Madrid. He played for the Madrid side from 2009 to 2023, scoring 354 goals in 648 matches, winning many trophies including five Champions League wins. And in 2022, it was one of the highest points of his career - Benzema won the Ballon d'Or as the best player in the world.
Now the main question: will the parties come to a compromise or will this "break" last long? On the one hand, the club's financial policy, and on the other, great prestige and high demands. For now, the fans want only one thing: Benzema to return to the field, because when such names appear in a game, both league and football have a "different taste."
Read “Zamin” on Telegram!
