24 January 2024 , 10:45
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Karim Benzema has denied he wants to leave Al-Ittihad, amid reports linking him with a move to Manchester United.
Benzema only moved to the Saudi Pro League in the summer, when he decided to leave Real Madrid on a free transfer. The striker became a modern-day legend at the Bernabeu, winning four La Liga titles and five Champions League trophies during his time with Los Blancos.
But though he has scored 12 goals in 20 games for Ittihad, the move to the Middle East has not worked out as the Frenchman hoped. Ittihad have put in an awful defence of their Saudi Pro League title and currently sit a lowly seventh in the table.
Despite being captain of the club, Benzema reported back to winter training 17 days later than scheduled. That sparked suggestions that he could seek to cut his stay at Ittihad short, just six months after arriving in Saudi.
Though United and Lyon have both made their interest known, Benzema appears to have dashed their hopes of signing him. He has instead insisted that he is happy in Saudi, claiming that the reports of a potential departure are false.
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Benzema told L'Equipe: "It's completely false! The French media don't know what to invent any more. The bigger the better."
The news that Benzema is not considering a move this month comes after Lyon stepped up their chase for him. The French side's hopes of bringing back to the Groupama Arena were sparked after Mirror Football reported that United had ruled themselves out of a deal.
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Benzema has been linked with an exit from Al-Ittihad after a difficult six months in Saudi Arabia (Lars Baron - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)Though the Red Devils are in need of a striker, his age and £86million per year wages have put off club chiefs from pursuing the five-time Champions League winner. Though Rasmus Hojlund has so far failed to fire since his summer arrival, United do not see Benzema as a viable option.
With the Red Devils pulling out, that appeared to hand a greenlight to Lyon in their own pursuit of the Ittihad captain. He won four Ligue 1 titles with Les Gones after breaking into their first-team in 2004.
According to The Athletic, reporting that Lyon are exploring a deal to bring him back to the club. Ittihad are yet to receive any offers for Benzema, while the striker is yet to inform club chiefs that he wants to leave.
Ittihad return on 4 February, though it still appears as if Benzema's future is up in the air. At this stage, it is not yet known if Lyon will continue their pursuit in light of the Frenchman's comments on his happiness in the Middle East.