Karim Benzema Transfers from Al Ittihad to Al-Hilal

Karim Benzema, a former striker for Real Madrid, has officially completed a last-minute transfer from Al Ittihad to Al-Hilal, a development that has taken many by surprise within the Saudi Pro League.

At the age of 38, Benzema had spent time with Al Ittihad since 2023 but found himself approaching the conclusion of his contract. Reports indicate he was dissatisfied with the proposed conditions for an extension.

Al Hilal announced the signing, confirming that the French football star would join their team on a free transfer for a period of one and a half years.

Benzema, who was instrumental in Al Ittihad's league and cup victories in 2025, expressed his feelings about his departure in a post on social media platform X: "This journey gave me a lot, both personally and professionally. I leave with my head held high, proud to have worn these colors and of everything we shared."

There are claims that Cristiano Ronaldo reacted negatively to Benzema’s transfer, which led him to miss Al Nassr's recent 1-0 victory over Al Riyadh. The reasons for Ronaldo's absence remain unclear, and he has not issued any public response regarding the situation.

Sources from Portugal suggest that Ronaldo is upset about the perceived lack of support for Al Nassr from the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia, which owns not only Al Nassr but also rivals Al Hilal, Al Ittihad, and Al Ahli. The Portuguese publication, A Bola, reported that Ronaldo believes these other clubs have received better financial backing.

Meanwhile, Al Nassr's head coach, Jorge Jesus, has made an addition to his team with Iraqi talent Hayder Abdulkareem, although he has expressed a desire for further reinforcements.

Jesus stated, “I spoke about the winter period. We don’t have any openings for foreign players, and the financial situation at Al Nassr is not good, which doesn’t allow it. I hope that one or two, maybe three players can join us.”

Al Nassr features several prominent players, including Sadio Mane, Joao Felix, and Kingsley Coman, while Jhon Duran, acquired for $75 million last January, is currently on loan at Fenerbahce.