In a surprising development that has shaken Saudi football circles, informed sources within Al-Ittihad Club have reported that international stars Karim Benzema and N'Golo Kanté have collected their personal belongings from the club's headquarters, a move indicating their imminent departure during the current winter transfer window. This news comes as a shock to Al-Ittihad fans, who had high hopes for the duo to lead the team to further achievements.
A source within Al-Ittihad confirmed to Al-Midan Al-Riyadi that the procedures have already been completed, indicating that Karim Benzema's next destination may be Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad's arch-rival, in what would be the most prominent transfer deal domestically, while N'Golo Kanté is set to join Turkish club Fenerbahçe. The source added: "We cannot disclose the financial details, but Al-Ittihad has received its full rights in the deal and has secured replacements for the duo, who will be announced within the next few hours.".
Background and context of major deals
The signings of Benzema, the 2022 Ballon d'Or winner, and Kanté, the 2018 World Cup winner, to Al-Ittihad in the summer of 2023 were a powerful statement of intent from the club and the Saudi league in general. These deals were part of a massive project aimed at elevating the level and value of the Saudi Professional League to become one of the top 10 leagues in the world and attract the attention of football fans globally. Their arrival at the then-reigning league champions provided a huge morale and technical boost, but their time with the club seems to have been shorter than anticipated.
The importance and expected impact of the departure
Domestically, the departure of players of this caliber from the league champions presents a significant challenge for the club's management and coaching staff, led by Argentine coach Marcelo Gallardo, who is striving to reorganize the team and get it back on track following a decline in results. The management will have to act quickly to find replacements of equal technical ability to maintain the team's competitiveness. Regionally and internationally, this early departure may raise questions about the Saudi league's ability to retain international stars in the long term and their ability to adapt to new environments, thus placing the entire Saudi sports project under global media scrutiny.
The coming hours will be crucial in revealing the details of these sensational deals and officially announcing the replacements that will compensate for the departure of two top-class stars from the “Al-Ittihad” stronghold.
