Rakan Al-Wabel, a physical therapist and sports medicine specialist, sparked widespread controversy in Saudi sports circles after his provocative statements about the health condition of French star Karim Benzema, the striker of Al-Ittihad Club, predicting that recurring injuries would put an end to his football career within a period not exceeding one year, which raised concerns among the fans of “Al-Ameed” and those following the Saudi Professional League project.
During a televised interview on the program "Al-Muntasaf," Al-Wabel explained that Benzema's recent absence from the Al-Taawoun match was not surprising from a medical standpoint, noting that the player had shown clear signs of injury since the previous round. He added that the player's participation despite these signs may have exacerbated his condition, leading to his absence from the field once again.
The context of the transition and the challenges of the first season
This controversy comes amidst Karim Benzema's first season in Saudi Arabia, following his historic transfer to Al-Ittihad in the summer of 2023 from Real Madrid, the reigning Ballon d'Or winner for the year 2022. This move was considered one of the biggest in the history of the Saudi league, and high hopes were placed on him to lead his team to domestic and continental titles. However, the French star's time with Al-Ittihad has not been without its challenges, as he has suffered a series of muscle injuries that have affected his consistency and performance, preventing him from consistently delivering the expected level of play.
The impact of the injury on the player's future and the league
In assessing the player's future, Al-Wabel made a striking prediction, suggesting that Benzema might not be medically able to continue playing after a year, attributing this to the complex nature of the muscle injuries he has suffered recently. The specialist explained that the recurring injuries, coupled with his age (36), make recovery and a return to peak performance more difficult, especially in a league characterized by a high physical pace and demanding fitness levels like the Saudi Professional League.
If these predictions prove true, it will be a major blow not only to Al-Ittihad, who rely on Benzema as their attacking leader, but also to the image of the Saudi league as a whole, which invests heavily in attracting international stars to raise the level of competition and garner global attention. The absence of a star of Benzema's caliber, or his early retirement, could raise questions about the ability of older players to adapt to the physical demands of the competition.
