Al Ittihad are looking for a new coach after the dismissal of Nuno Espirito Santo, reportedly due to a dispute with Karim Benzema, the summer’s star recruit.
The Portuguese has failed to produce results since the start of his tenure and, after a defeat against Iraqi club Al Quwa in the Asian Champions League, Nuno was given his starting orders. Al Ittihad are sixth in their national championship, with 12 points from 11 matches.
Benzema was one of the first big names to leave for Saudi Arabia, and Al Ittihad spent big money to sign Fabinho, Ngolo KantĂ© and Luiz Felipe. And Benzema’s intervention was one of the key factors in Nuno’s departure.
The former France international spoke to the Al Ittihad hierarchy in recent weeks and recommended Nuno’s dismissal in order to improve results, but the straw that broke the camel’s back was a argument between the two men at half-time of the defeat against Al Quwa.
As his team loses 1-0, Nuno demands more from his star striker, as reported by Cadena SER.
“You are a great player, but it seems that you are too lazy to press the opponent.
“Don’t just talk to me, talk to the whole group,” retorted Benzema.
“You are the leader of the team, the example for the players and the most important athlete. You must take the initiative and be an example for all players“. When Benzema did not respond, Nuno called him “lazy”.
This is not the first time Benzema has had problems with coaches. Didier Deschamps refused to call him up with the Blues for eight years, following the sex tape affair. Recalled in 2020, Benzema then fell out with DD in the run-up to the 2022 World Cup two years later, leading to his retirement.
