Karim Benzema’s £86m-a-year Saudi transfer turns bitter

Karim Benzema‘s Saudi transfer seems to be going from dangerous to worse going by the nickname he has reportedly been given by his personal followers.

The Real Madrid legend was one among many high European gamers to make the change to the Saudi Pro League in the summertime, becoming a member of Al-Ittihad in an £86m-a-year transfer. 

There had been excessive expectations of the 2022 Ballon d’Or winner, becoming a member of a aspect who final season received the title, and partnered with two of the highest Premier League midfielders of latest years in N’Golo Kante and Fabinho.

However, their 5-2 Boxing Day defeat by Cristiano Ronaldo‘s Al-Nassr, has left them 22 factors off leaders Al-Hilal after 18 video games.

According to French publication L’Equipe, Benzema’s personal followers have given him the nickname ‘Ben-Hazima’ – which in Arabic interprets to ‘the son of defeat’. 

Karim Benzema has been given a brutal nickname which interprets to ‘the son of defeat’

Benzema’s Al-Ittihad are 22 factors off the highest after their 5-2 loss to Cristiano Ronaldo’s aspect Al-Nassr

Al-Ittihad have suffered six defeats to date this season – already 4 greater than they achieved throughout the entire of the 2022-23 season. 

They are sixth within the standings and have didn’t win 4 of their final 5 video games in all competitions. They additionally suffered a disappointing early defeat from the FIFA Club World Cup after dropping to Al Ahly within the second spherical.

This has led to followers turning towards Benzema, as evident by their brutal nickname, as they’ve been ‘relentless’ of their criticism of the underachieving aspect.

There had been loud boos from Al-Ittihad followers after their defeat by Al-Nassr, in a recreation the place former team-mate Ronaldo and Sadio Mane each bagged braces. 

Al-Ittihad had taken the 1-0 lead within the recreation with Benzema bagging an help, just for the sport to show of their opponent’s favour after he gave away a penalty – resulting in Ronaldo’s equaliser.  

Manager Marcelo Gallardo was criticised by Saudi pundits, with analyst Hatem Khaimi stating as per Essentially Sports: ‘The expulsion and penalty kick made the match one-sided, and Gallardo helped do this by eradicating Cornado and conserving Benzema on.’

As beforehand reported, Benzema appeared to delete his Instagram account – which has 76 million followers – after the loss.

His Instagram account now comes up with a message saying the ‘web page is not obtainable’ and that ‘the hyperlink you adopted could also be damaged, or the web page could have been eliminated’.

Fans have turned towards Benzema and booed Al-Ittihad after their Boxing Day defeat

Benzema has been comfortably outshone by former team-mate Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia

A falling out with Nuno Espirito Santo (pictured) led to the now Nottingham Forest boss being sacked by Al-Ittihad regardless of guiding them to the Saudi Pro League title final season

This means that both Benzema has deleted or quickly suspended his Instagram account. 

Benzema has confronted scrutiny in Saudi Arabia regardless of bagging 9 targets and 4 assists in 14 video games.  

Al-Ittihad, final season’s champions, sacked their title-winning supervisor Nuno Espirito Santo mid-season after a row with Benzema.

As reported by Goal, the membership’s followers have additionally accused the Frenchman of being ‘lazy’ and ‘unwilling’ to his play his half within the development of play.

A Saudi reporter in the meantime, as per talkSPORT, reported that Benzema ‘makes no effort’ and has ‘supplied nothing’.

Walid Al-Farraj stated: ‘The hole between Benzema and the general public is rising day-to-day. He did not play and by no means managed to make a single distinction. And above all, he makes no effort, as if he had been telling the viewers: ‘I’m simply having enjoyable with you’.

Benzema has appeared to delete his Instagram account within the aftermath of Tuesday’s loss

‘When Ronaldo arrived in January he confirmed indicators that he needed to play, however Benzema supplied nothing. It’s just like the group does not like him. He is uncomfortable. I do not know the explanation.’

Ronaldo, who’s now approaching a yr in Saudi Arabia, has outshone the participant he shaped a prolific reference to throughout their time collectively on the Santiago Bernabeu.

This season alone, Ronaldo has scored 23 targets and offered 11 assists in 24 video games, and the Portuguese star tops the Saudi Pro League scoring charts on the age of 38 together with his tally of 19 targets. 

He can also be now on 53 targets for the calendar yr, which is greater than the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland, albeit, enjoying in a weaker league.  

Benzema alternatively remains to be but to make it into double digits within the Saudi Pro League and is seventh within the scoring charts – joint on 9 targets with a variety of gamers together with Odion Ighalo.