The management of Al-Ittihad Saudi Club has begun serious and decisive moves to ensure the stability of the first football team, by submitting an official offer to renew the contract of the team's captain and French star Karim Benzema, to ensure his continued presence within the "Dean's" stronghold for a longer period, and to block any speculations that may surround his future.
Details of Al-Ittihad's offer to renew Benzema's contract
International press reports, most notably those of Italian journalist Nicola Schira, who specializes in the transfer market, revealed that Al-Ittihad's management has offered to extend their contract with the former Ballon d'Or winner until 2028. Schira explained via his official account on the "X" platform that negotiations are progressing very positively, with the French striker expressing his initial welcome of the idea of staying in Jeddah and continuing the sporting project with the club.
This move comes at a sensitive time, as reports indicate a mutual desire between the two parties to complete the partnership, especially since Benzema is the mainstay of the team's attack and the club's global marketing face.
Benzema and the Saudi League project: Dimensions that extend beyond the green rectangle
Karim Benzema's contract renewal cannot be viewed solely from a technical perspective; it also reflects a long-term strategy of the Saudi Professional League and Al-Ittihad Club. Since joining Al-Ittihad in the summer of 2013 from Real Madrid in a historic free transfer, Benzema has become an icon of the Kingdom's global talent acquisition project, part of Vision 2030.
Benzema's staying until 2028 represents a strong message about the sustainability of the Saudi sports project, and the ability of clubs to retain world-class stars for long periods, which enhances the market value of the league and attracts more sponsorship and international television broadcasting contracts.
The importance of technical stability for the Dean
Domestically, Al-Ittihad is striving to establish technical and administrative stability. After a season marked by some inconsistent results, the management understands that maintaining the team's core, spearheaded by Benzema with his extensive experience in European leagues and the Champions League, is key to returning to the podium and fiercely competing for domestic and continental titles.
Extending the contract for two additional seasons gives the coaching staff space to work calmly, and builds bridges of trust between the player and the passionate Al-Ittihad fans, who rely heavily on the "government," as they like to call it, to lead the team towards glory in the coming years.
