French striker Karim Benzema has asked for a “temporary” departure from his club, the Saudi League champions itthad Jeddah , due to pressure, a source close to the club revealed to AFP on Tuesday.
The source explained that the itthad Jeddah offered Benzema a loan to another team in the Saudi League, but that the player who feels unable to give his best to the federation due to pressure, rejected it.
A source close to Benzema, whose contract with the Federation expires in 2026, did not wish to confirm the news of his departure request.
Benzema is one of the leading stars to the Saudi League this season, along with fellow countryman N ‘Golo Kante, Brazilian Neymar (Al-Hilal), Algeria’s Riyad Mahrez (Al-Ahly) and Senegal’s Sadio Mane (Al-Nasr), after being preceded by PortuGuGugal’s Cristian Cristiano Ronaldo World onalo last season.
English media said Chelsea might be interested in signing the 2022 Ballon d’Or winner on loan during the current transfer market.
Benzema, who had been away from his team for weeks, returned to Jeddah last Thursday, after 17 days of absence.
The international striker had been on leave from his club 3 days for “special circumstances” and had travelled to Madrid on December 28 after disrupting his Instagram account.
The Frenchman scored 9 goals and made 5 assists in the league, a long way from former Real Madrid team-mate Ronaldo of Spain, who is 20 goals above the scorers’ standings, plus 9 assists.
