A hat-trick and an assist for his big debut. Karim Benzema’s response was scathing. After leaving Al-Ittihad in a climate of open conflict, the French striker reminded all of Saudi Arabia that he remained an extraordinary player. His first match in the colors of Al-Hilal turned into a demonstration, and the 2022 Ballon d’Or seemed to find a smile and the pleasure of playing again. But behind this remarkable performance was a much deeper wound than a simple contractual disagreement with its former leaders.
“Ask them…ask the Al-Ittihad players”
Because after the match, asked about the reasons for his departure and the fact that he did not say goodbye to his former partners, the Frenchman’s response was laconic, but incredibly violent.
“Ask them…ask the Al-Ittihad players”he simply blurted out, before refusing to expand on the subject. This little sentence, heavy with innuendo, lifts the veil on another facet of his departure: the divorce was not only with the club, but also with the locker room.
Karim Benzema, liberator and avenger. After a triumph on the field, his murderous words (“Ask them…”) reveal the real reason for his war with Al-Ittihad: the betrayal of the locker room.
We already knew that his departure had been caused by a disappointing sporting project and an extension offer considered disrespectful. We now discover that the evil was deeper. These cryptic words suggest betrayal, internal tensions, a lack of support from those with whom he shared daily life. Benzema not only felt cheated by his leaders, he also felt let down by his teammates.
A Saudi chaos made of unsaid words and betrayals
These statements shed a harsh light on the chaos currently reigning in the Saudi Pro League. Between the “strike” of Cristiano Ronaldo, who feels betrayed by the lack of ambition of his club, and the settling of scores from Benzema, the Saudi championship looks more and more like a powder keg. The stories of things left unsaid, of broken promises and of exacerbated rivalries take precedence over the athlete.
The Ballon d’Or has found an environment where he feels good, a club where he feels a “great atmosphere”. But he didn’t forget. His first words as an Al-Hilal player were for his new partners, but also, and above all, for his old ones. The message got through. The war of egos has started well in Saudi Arabia, and it promises to be ruthless.
