Algerian star Houssem Aouar, a player for Italian club Roma, spoke to the media about the controversy surrounding the future of his former Olympique Lyonnais teammate, French star Karim Benzema, with his current club, Al-Ittihad of Saudi Arabia, during the last winter transfer window. Aouar considered the rumors and reports about Benzema's desire to leave to be "a normal occurrence in the world of professional football.".
Aouar stated, “What happened is normal in football. Karim Benzema is a fantastic player, and these things always happen to great players. The most important thing is to focus on the pitch and give your best for your team.” He added, emphasizing the need to overcome such situations, “As professional players, we focus on fighting for our goals, and frankly, we will fight until the end.”.
Background to Benzema's crisis in the Saudi League
Aouar's comments came amidst a turbulent period for Karim Benzema, the 2022 Ballon d'Or winner, following his historic move from Real Madrid to Al-Ittihad in the summer of 2023. Despite a strong start, the French striker faced significant challenges, including intense pressure from fans and the media due to the team's declining results, as well as reports of disagreements with former coach Nuno Espírito Santo and then current coach Marcelo Gallardo. The crisis escalated during the winter transfer window, with Benzema missing a period of training, fueling speculation about his imminent departure. He was linked with moves to other Saudi clubs like Al-Hilal, or even a return to Europe.
The importance and impact of the event
Benzema's crisis posed a real test for the ambitious Saudi Pro League project, which has attracted top international stars to raise the level of competition and garner global attention. How Al-Ittihad's management and the Public Investment Fund (owners of the four biggest clubs) handled this crisis was seen as an indicator of the league's ability to retain its stars and provide them with a stable professional environment. Domestically, the rumors caused considerable concern among Al-Ittihad fans, who have high hopes for Benzema to lead the team to domestic and continental titles. Internationally, the story was followed with great interest by the global media, given that it involved one of the world's most prominent players and highlighted the challenges that top stars may face when moving to new footballing environments.
