The sudden departure of French star Karim Benzema from Al-Ittihad Club mere hours before the closure of the 2026 winter transfer window continues to generate profound questions and bewilderment. This move, coming just one season after the club’s historic double of the Roshn Saudi League and the King’s Cup titles, has left a significant void and disrupted the club’s trajectory.

Benzema’s transfer to Al-Hilal followed an explosive crisis with the Al-Ittihad administration. While club president Fahad Al-Sindi acknowledged the club benefited financially from this unforeseen deal, he also emphasized it was a step outside the club’s calculations, fundamentally altering all future plans.

A Pivotal Change in Leadership

Analyzing the reasons behind Benzema’s exit and the current state of Al-Ittihad, journalist Mohammed Al-Sheikh, speaking on the “Action Ya Doury” program, identified the departure of French manager Laurent Blanc as a critical turning point. This event gradually paved the way for Benzema’s own exit, particularly following the arrival of a coach with a diametrically opposed philosophy: Sergio Conceição.

“I agree with Al-Ittihad president Fahad Al-Sindi that the most difficult decision was dismissing Laurent Blanc,” stated Al-Sheikh. “The club’s errors originated from the pre-season training camp.” He elaborated, revealing that a foundational mistake was discovered, noting that “correction does not necessarily have to come through a dismissal decision.”

The journalist posited that Benzema’s transformation from a devoted player to one seeking departure likely stemmed from the managerial change. “Laurent Blanc operates heavily on the psychological aspect, while Conceição, as Al-Sindi described, is a strict and disciplined coach,” he explained.

Al-Sheikh further suggested that “Conceião did not bring this problem upon himself,” implying the issues were pre-existing. Benzema’s shift in attitude may have resulted from a clash between the new manager and the star, along with several other key players. “There is also talk of another confrontation involving Abdulrahman Al-Aboud,” Al-Sheikh added, concluding that “the situation Al-Ittihad is experiencing at the moment is partly due to Conceição.”