Amidst the speculation rife in Saudi sports circles, Al-Hilal's Portuguese coach, Jorge Jesus, put an end to the rumors circulating about his club's interest in signing French star Karim Benzema, the Al-Ittihad striker, during the current winter transfer window. Jesus's response was decisive and diplomatic, emphasizing his complete respect for players at other clubs and his absolute focus on his current team.
During the press conference preceding one of the team's matches in the Saudi Professional League, and in response to a direct question about the truth of the negotiations with Benzema, Jesus said: “I will not talk about players who are not on my team. My complete focus is solely on Al-Hilal players, and he is currently a player for another team, a rival of ours.” With this statement, the coach closed the door on the controversy, emphasizing that his priority is working with the current group, which is successfully leading the season's competitions.
Background and context of rumors in the Saudi League
These speculations arose following international and local media reports indicating Karim Benzema's dissatisfaction at his current club, Al-Ittihad, the reigning Saudi Pro League champions. These reports coincided with the team's declining performance and their elimination from title contention this season, raising the possibility of the French Ballon d'Or winner's departure. Benzema joined the Saudi league in a record-breaking transfer last summer from Real Madrid.
This comes amidst the significant transformation underway in the Saudi Professional League, which has become a destination for some of the world's top football stars thanks to massive investments from the Public Investment Fund. The competition between major clubs like Al-Hilal, Al-Ittihad, Al-Nassr, and Al-Ahli has intensified, not only on the pitch but also in the transfer market. A move by a player of Benzema's caliber from a major Saudi club to their traditional rival would be a seismic event in the sporting world and would reshape the league's power dynamics.
The importance of the deal and its potential impact
Despite Jesus's denial, analysts believe that the mere suggestion of Benzema's transfer to Al-Hilal reflects the level of ambition and competition in the league. Al-Hilal, already boasting a formidable attacking force with Serbian Aleksandar Mitrovic and Brazilians Malcom and Neymar (currently injured), might see Benzema as a significant addition that would bolster their domestic dominance and strengthen their continental ambitions. On the other hand, Benzema's departure from Al-Ittihad would represent a major blow to the club's project, which has been built around him. The French star's future remains uncertain, and his name will undoubtedly continue to be a focus of media and fan attention until the winter transfer window closes.
