Inside Karim Benzema vs Nuno feud - surprise claim and denied Al Ittihad request
Karim Benzema was supposed to be man who'd fire Al Ittihad to a second successive Saudi Pro League title.
Instead, the reigning Ballon d'Or winner reportedly finds himself on the brink of being frozen out after only six appearances. Former Wolves and Tottenham manager Nuno Espirito Santo may've been gifted one of this generation's greatest strikers, but he and Benzema haven't gelled in Jeddah.
Following in Cristiano Ronaldo's footsteps and becoming the second global superstar to quit European football for Saudi fortune, Benzema left Real Madrid in June after 14 trophy-laden seasons. Al Ittihad had just come off of an emphatic title win over Ronaldo's Al Nassr and were considered the dominant force in Saudi Arabia.
Add a five-time Champions League winner to the mix - as well as a sprinkling of other high-profile signings - and what could go wrong? Plenty, it would seem.
Kicking off
It all started so well. After receiving a hero's welcome when he first jetted into the Middle East and was unveiled at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, Benzema began his Al Ittihad career just how he'd ended his Real Madrid one - scoring goals. One strike in each of his first three games, with an assist to boot, helped Nuno's side march into the Arab Champions Cup quarter-finals.
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But Al Hilal, another Saudi club backed with superstar signings this summer, beat them 3-1 after Benzema missed a penalty. He's not found the back of the net since, although Al Ittihad have won their first two league games 3-0 and 2-0 respectively, with the Frenchman assisting once.
So far, so good - right?
Karim Benzema's time with Al Ittihad has already gone sour, according to reports (Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)Nuno's not having it
After a bright start to the league season and ahead of a clash with Al Riyadh on Thursday, no one expected this week's headlines in Saudi newspaper Alsharq Al Awsat. A report claims Nuno has informed Al Ittihad's board that Benzema doesn't fit his style of play.
It was added that the Portuguese coach hadn't requested to sign the 35-year-old, who in turn feels that he's being treated 'unprofessionally' by Nuno, leading to tension between the pair within the dressing room. Benzema is also reported to have requested the captain's armband during his transfer negotiations, but Nuno eventually refused and gave it to club legend Romarinho.
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Nuno Espirto Santo reportedly didn't want to sign Karim Benzema (Khalid Alhaj/MB Media/Getty Images)What's next?
While it's not yet been reported that Benzema is looking to leave Al Ittihad, it's hard to envisage he and Nuno spending much longer together unless a compromise is reached. The ex- Lyon hotshot signed a two-year deal with the club, plus the option of a further 12 months, rumoured to be worth €200million (£171m) per season.
The speculation surrounding Benzema's future coincides with claims that former Celtic winger Jota is on the verge of leaving Al Ittihad, having also only joined this summer. The Saudi champions paid £25m for his services but reportedly want to sell the Portuguese starlet, 24, and replace him with none other than Liverpool hero Mohamed Salah.
It'll be interesting to see whether or not Benzema and Jota are selected to face Al Riyadh on Thursday, as Nuno's men bid to reinforce their lead at the top of the table. Ex- Premier League stalwarts N'Golo Kante and Fabinho have already forged a solid partnership in midfield for Al Ittihad, helping them to back-to-back clean sheets.
Moroccan ace Abderrazak Hamdallah and Brazilian star Igor Coronado both have two league goals each, working well behind Benzema alongside Romarinho. Nuno could yet be backed by more additions before the Saudi transfer window closes on September 20 - even if he doesn't want them.
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