Karim Benzema has not appeared for Al-Ittihad’s pre-season training, leading coach Marcelo Gallardo to leave him out of the team’s upcoming Dubai trip, as reported by MARCA.
This news comes after Benzema was allegedly missing before Al-Ittihad’s scheduled game on December 30, a report by Al-Riyadiya stated.
Benzema, who won the 2022 Ballon d’Or, reportedly left Jeddah just hours before his team was set to face Al-Tai, and had not participated in training sessions leading up to the game.
Coach Gallardo was unable to provide Al-Riyadiya with a reason for Benzema’s absence. Consequently, the match was called off, as confirmed by an official statement from the Saudi Pro League.
Two weeks after this incident, MARCA revealed that Benzema did not return for the season’s restart at Al-Ittihad and was subsequently excluded by the coach from the team’s tour in Dubai, beginning the next day.
According to MARCA’s sources in Saudi Arabia, Benzema failed to show up for a team presentation day at Al-Ittihad’s facilities.
As a result, Gallardo decided not to include him in the squad traveling to Dubai on Sunday. Benzema, who was not granted permission to miss Friday’s activities, is now officially not part of the pre-season in Dubai. After leaving Real Madrid for a move to the Middle East, Benzema’s transition to his new club has been met with challenges.
Speaking to the AFP before the close of 2023, a source close to Al-Ittihad’s management confessed that marquee signings it made including Benzema “have not yet achieved the desired result”.
“Of course, we were expecting more from Benzema especially, but we realize his value as a world-class player.
“It is not always easy to move to a new country and league and shine immediately. It is a matter of time,” the source added.
