Coming from Fabrizio Romano this morning Karim Benzema has joined Premier League giants this morning and he is currently onboard to join this Club
Manchester United and Arsenal have once again been linked to the iconic striker Karim Benzema, but the Frenchman has refuted claims that he desires to depart from Al Ittihad as “entirely untrue”.
Benzema made the move to Al Ittihad from Real Madrid, the 14-time Champions League winners, in the summer of 2023, reportedly signing a three-year contract worth £172 million annually. Despite various reports suggesting his dissatisfaction in Saudi Arabia, any potential departure seems complex due to his pivotal role as a marquee signing for the Saudi Pro League.
According to 90min, Benzema’s exit from the Middle East would require approval not only from Al Ittihad’s coach Marcelo Gallardo and sporting director Roman Planes but also from Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Sport. Although Benzema has not communicated any discontent to Al Ittihad, speculations arose when he returned late from holiday in Mauritius.
French reports hinted at Benzema seeking a ‘temporary’ departure, while Marca suggested discussions were scheduled with the club’s hierarchy following interest from Manchester United and Arsenal. His former club Lyon is also reportedly interested, but the allure of the Premier League has captured attention, with Benzema being touted as a potential addition to England’s top flight.
Dispelling rumors, Benzema dismissed talk of an exit, stating to L’Equipe, “It’s completely false! The French media don’t know what to invent anymore. The bigger, the better.”
Benzema’s substantial salary adds another layer of complexity, as seen with Jordan Henderson’s contract termination at Al Ettifaq to join Ajax. However, his prowess in front of goal could significantly benefit both Manchester United and Arsenal, who have struggled to find consistent scoring form.
United, currently eighth in the Premier League, have faced goal-scoring woes with Rasmus Hojlund showing glimpses of talent but Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial failing to deliver consistently. Arsenal, harboring hopes for the title, have also encountered scoring difficulties, despite a recent 5-0 win over Crystal Palace.
While Benzema has netted nine goals and provided five assists in 15 appearances for Al Ittihad, their title aspirations in the Saudi Pro League seem distant with Al Hilal dominating the standings, leaving Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr trailing by a significant margin.
