Mohammed Noor, the legend of Al-Ittihad Club and one of its most prominent historical stars, sparked widespread controversy in Saudi sports circles with fiery statements criticizing the way French star Karim Benzema dealt with the club, accusing him of having a prior agreement with Al-Hilal Club, the traditional rival, even before his future was officially decided with the Dean of Saudi Clubs.
Background to Benzema's arrival in the Saudi League
The signing of Karim Benzema, the 2022 Ballon d'Or winner, to Al-Ittihad in the summer of 2023 was one of the biggest deals in the history of the Saudi Professional League. His arrival from Real Madrid, where he was captain and all-time leading scorer, provided a huge boost to the Kingdom's project of attracting international stars and raised expectations among Al-Ittihad fans, who hoped that the "government" would lead the team to retain the league title and achieve continental success, especially in the Club World Cup hosted by Jeddah.
Mohamed Nour's statements and details of the crisis
During his appearance on the program “Our League is Different,” Mohammed Noor revealed details of what he described as the “wrong way” Karim Benzema left Al-Ittihad. Noor said, “The way Karim Benzema left Al-Ittihad was wrong. The club presented him with more than one offer to renew his contract and keep him with the team, but he didn’t accept these offers, or even respond to them.” Noor added that the real reason behind this disregard wasn’t dissatisfaction with the offers, but rather a prior agreement with another club. He continued, “The reason Karim Benzema didn’t respond to these offers is that he had a prior agreement with Al-Hilal to join their ranks, and therefore, the way he left was wrong.”.
The importance and expected impact of the statements
Mohammed Noor's statements carry particular weight given that they come from a prominent Al-Ittihad figure who commands widespread respect and admiration. These accusations, if true, cast doubt on the player's professionalism and commitment to the club with which he has a lucrative contract. Domestically, these statements reignite the historic rivalry between Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal, adding a new dimension to the off-field conflict between the two giants. They also raise broader questions about managing relationships with star players in the Saudi league, the challenges clubs face in dealing with global figures like Benzema, and ensuring their full commitment to their contracts and the club's emblem.
