Karim Benzema caused a huge stir in Saudi Arabia by failing to show up for training with Al-Ittihad on Thursday and Friday. According to information from the Saudi media Al-Riyadiya, the French star has left the city and his whereabouts are still completely unknown.
Karim Benzema is keeping the whole of Saudi Arabia in suspense
The striker would have disappeared from Jeddah without a trace, leaving a sea of speculation in the Middle East. The situation started after Al-Ittihad's tough 5-2 defeat against Al-Nassr, in which Benzema missed a penalty.
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As usual, criticism of the former Real Madrid striker did not take long to arrive. Despite scoring 12 goals in 20 games, Benzema is one of the country's most highlighted players in the press. “He misses very easy chances and seems to have lost interest in playing football,” commented journalist Abdel Karim Al Jasser.
In light of these events, Marcelo Gallardo, coach of the Saudi team, was asked about the Frenchman's situation but preferred not to delve further into the issue. In addition, it should be noted that Al-Ittihad had an exciting duel against Al-Ta'ee. However, the game was postponed to February 7, 2024 due to weather.
Karim Benzema has closed his Instagram account
Obviously, Benzema's situation is a mystery to the football world. The 36-year-old striker even decided to disappear from social media and decided to close his Instagram account.
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What do people say in Spain about the Benzema case?
Although the media in Saudi Arabia claim that Benzema has left the city, the information in Spain contradicts this as they claim that the French striker had the club's permission.
This was hinted at by Diario Marca when it claimed that those close to the shooter reported that he had a foot injury and Al-Ittihad had given him permission.