This time the crisis and the standoff between Karim Benzema and his Saudi club Al Ittihad seem to be over. The 2022 Ballon d’Or, after resuming collective training with the first team in recent days, will return to the field. It had been two months since he last played a match. He spoke at length with his coach, the Argentinian Marcelo Gallardo who had recently shown his anger by not calling him up for the last match against Navbahor in the Asian Champions League. But Benzema should play this Sunday in the Saudi League match against Al Riyadh. It was his face that was chosen to illustrate the match poster.
Since the end of the winter break, the tension has been palpable between Benzema and his club. The Frenchman was not present at the restart, officially stranded by a storm which prevented his plane from taking off. His managers and his coach had not necessarily been convinced of his good faith and Benzema had been sanctioned.
Deemed a little too tight physically, the ex-Madrilenian had to prepare alone. And Gallardo, in the Asian Champions League, had therefore made the decision to do without his services. Because the regulations only allow him to field five foreign players at a time in this competition. The Argentinian therefore chose to retain another Frenchman, midfielder N’Golo Kanté, Egyptian defender Ahmed Hegazy, Brazilians Fabinho and Romarinho and Moroccan striker Abderrazak Hamdallah.
Obviously questioned about the absence of his star player, Gallardo defended himself: “He is currently training alone, after joining the team a few days ago. When he is physically and technically ready, he will undoubtedly join the group, most likely next week.” And he went from words to actions since Benzema will meet his teammates this Sunday.
