Ramon Planes, the sporting director of Saudi Arabia's Al-Ittihad Club, revealed the club's strategic direction regarding the future of French star Karim Benzema, putting an end to rumors circulating about the stability of the team's coaching staff. Planes' statements confirmed Al-Ittihad's strong desire to maintain its technical achievements and ensure team stability amidst the fierce competition in the Saudi Professional League.
Karim Benzema's future with Al-Ittihad
In an interview with Spanish radio station Cadena SER on Wednesday evening, Planes confirmed that the club's intention is clearly to renew Karim Benzema's contract. The sporting director described the French striker as "the best player in the Saudi Professional League," basing this on statistics and his on-field impact. He pointed out that Benzema, a former Ballon d'Or winner, continues to perform at an exceptional level despite being 38 years old, having scored 24 goals last season, making him an indispensable pillar of the club's project.
This desire for renewal comes in the context of the Union's management's keenness to enhance technical stability, especially since Benzema has participated in 16 matches with the team this season, during which he scored 12 goals, reflecting the continuity of his goal-scoring performance and his value as a leader in the front line.
The truth about the dispute with Sergio Conceicao
On another note, Planes addressed recent reports of tension between him and Portuguese coach Sergio Conceição. The sporting director categorically denied these rumors, explaining that his 24 years of experience in sports management have enabled him to deal professionally with various coaches. He stated, "I have no problem with Conceição," while also acknowledging that coaches naturally face pressure due to the nature of the competition and the high expectations of the fans.
Competition context and team position
These statements take on particular significance given Al-Ittihad's current position in the Roshan League standings, where they sit in sixth place with 23 points. The Jeddah-based club, a pillar of Saudi football and one of the four clubs acquired by the Public Investment Fund, is striving to improve its ranking and return to title contention. The move to retain star players like Benzema and the denial of any administrative disputes send a reassuring message to fans that efforts are underway to get the team back on track and restore its prestige both domestically and continentally.
