Share this @internewscast.com

Manchester United and Arsenal have again been linked with moves for legendary striker Karim Benzema, but the Frenchman says reports that he wants to leave Al Ittihad are “completely false”.

Benzema joined Al Ittihad from 14-time Champions League winners Real Madrid in the summer of 2023 – penning a three-year contract reported to be worth £172m per year in the process – but various reports have claimed he is unsettled in Saudi Arabia.

90min recently revealed that any exit from the Middle East would be complicated even if the 36-year-old did want to leave. Benzema was seen as the poster boy signing for the Saudi Pro League, leading an exodus of a number of high-profile players from Europe, and any potential exit would have to be authorised by not only Al Ittihad coach Marcelo Gallardo and sporting director Roman Planes, but also Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Sport.

Benzema has not communicated to Al Ittihad that he is unhappy and seeking an exit, 90min further understands, but that hasn’t stopped the rumour mill from spinning after he returned to training late from a holiday in Mauritius.

Reports in France claimed on Tuesday that Benzema had demanded a ‘temporary’ exit from Al Ittihad, while leading Spanish publication Marca reported that a meeting was due to be held with the club’s hierarchy after Manchester United and Arsenal expressed an interest in signing him.

Former club Lyon are also said to be in the mix for Benzema, who scored 354 goals in a trophy-laden 14 years at Real Madrid, but it’s a potential switch to the Premier League that has whetted the appetites of those wanting to see the Frenchman try his hand in England.

Benzema has now moved to shut down talk of a potential exit, telling L’Equipe: “It’s completely false! The French media don’t know what to invent any more. The bigger the better.”

Karim Benzema

Karim Benzema won it all at Real Madrid / Quality Sport Images/GettyImages

Benzema’s astronomical pay packet would further complicate matters – Jordan Henderson ended up terminating his contract at Al Ettifaq so that he could join Ajax – but he would undoubtedly aid the Premier League duo as they seek to bolster their goalscoring options.

United are struggling in the Premier League, sitting eighth in the table after losing nine of their 21 games, and they have scored just 24 goals. Rasmus Hojlund has played well in flashes but Marcus Rashford has struggled and Anthony Martial has been non-existent from a goalscoring perspective.

Arsenal, meanwhile, are clinging on to Premier League title aspirations, but they too have had trouble finding the back of the net. Saturday’s 5-0 win over Crystal Palace bucked the trend – emphatically putting to bed back-to-back defeats to West Ham United and Fulham – but Gabriel Jesus has scored just three times in the competition and Bukayo Saka is the Gunners’ top scorer on six.

Benzema has scored nine goals and contributed five assists in 15 appearances for Al Ittihad, but they are well off the pace in the Saudi Pro League title race. Al Hilal are undefeated top of the table, ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr, and are a whopping 25 points clear of Al Ittihad.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Dominic Solanke Attracts Interest from Two Top Premier League Clubs Following Unique Release Clause Disclosure

Dominic Solanke is being eyed by two ‘big six’ Premier League clubs…

Arsenal’s Gabriel discloses the one team he’d sign with ‘tomorrow’

Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes has admitted he would join Corinthians ‘tomorrow’ if…

England vs Senegal Match Ratings: Who Struggled With Age and Which Player’s Mistake Upset Thomas Tuchel?

Thomas Tuchel suffered his first defeat as England manager on Tuesday night. …

10 Emerging Soccer Talents to Watch Before They Shine at the 2026 World Cup

The 2026 World Cup is just a year away and attention is…

Arsenal Player Gabriel Discloses the Team He Would Instantly Join

Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes has admitted he would join Corinthians ‘tomorrow’ if…

Erling Haaland Issues a Caution to Man City Teammates Following Disappointing Season Performance

Erling Haaland has warned his Manchester City teammates that they cannot search…

How the Influence of Mines Shaped Some of Football’s Most Legendary Figures

There was once the strongly held belief that all the Welsh rugby…

Chelsea Decides Enzo Maresca’s Future Before Upcoming Champions League Matches

Chelsea are prepared to stand by manager Enzo Maresca even if the…

The Complex Legacy of Football: TV Star Hayley McQueen Reflects on How Her Dad Gordon’s Career Brought Both Joy and Heartache

A PHOTOGRAPH in the family home of late football legend Gordon McQueen…

James Maddison Speaks Out After Ange Postecoglou’s Departure, Joining Teammates in Addressing Former Tottenham Manager

James Maddison has become the latest Tottenham Hotspur player to pay tribute…

Rayan Cherki: Manchester City’s Controversial £34m Talent – Why Coaches Are Divided and How He’s Crucial to Pep Guardiola’s Rebuilding Strategy After Eluding Manchester United

Rayan Cherki has already endeared himself to Manchester City supporters before kicking…

Potential Rising Stars of the 2024/25 Premier League Season Announced

Eight players have been nominated for this year’s Premier League Young Player…