07 February 2024 , 20:57
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Karim Benzema reportedly walked out of an Al-Ittihad training session after refusing to follow his manager's orders.
Marcelo Gallardo had ordered the Frenchman to train alone but the striker refused and stormed out and, as a result, has been left out of the squad to take on Al-Tai in Wednesday night's Saudi Pro League clash. Benzema was pictured training at the club's facilities on Tuesday, but only with the injured players.
Benzema's relationship with his employers has broken down in recent weeks with the forward failing to return to training on time - later reporting 17 days late, leaving the club 'furious', reports Marca.
One source stated that Al-Ittihad couldn't even establish contact with their player for 10 days whilst he enjoyed a holiday in Mauritius. He was later excluded from the club's training camp after failing to impress Gallardo. The club's hierarchy held crunch talks with Benzema just months after he joined from Real Madrid.
There was talk of the Ballon d'Or winner being moved on, potentially to a different Saudi outfit, but he ended up staying put. Benzema penned a lucrative deal back in the summer, which earns him an annual sum of £86million as the league's chiefs look to improve their domestic scene.
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Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea were among those linked with a move in January when it looked as if he could cut short his time in Saudi. A rumoured move to Lyon in his native France also fell through.
Benzema reportedly remains unsettled in Saudi and he could yet seek a move back to Europe. Already Jordan Henderson has decided to quit the Middle Eastern league after terminating his deal, which freed him up to join Ajax.
Karim Benzema had been linked with a Saudi exit (Getty Images)When the Frenchman moved to Saudi Arabia he said: "It now feels the time is right for a new challenge and project. I am looking forward to joining my new team-mates and, together with them, help take this amazing club and the game in Saudi Arabia to new levels."
Benzema has not yet had the desired affect for Al-Ittihad, who sit fifth in the Saudi Pro League. The club also invested in landing Fabinho from Liverpool and N'Golo Kante when his Chelsea contract expired.