This Wednesday, Saudi media outlets unveil a dispute between Karim Benzema and his coach at Al Ittihad, Nuno Espírito Santo.
Having arrived this summer at Al Ittihad with the ambition to become the undisputed star of the Saudi team, Karim Benzema is currently embroiled in a conflict with his coach, Nuno Espírito Santo, according to information from the Saudi media Asharq Al-Aswat. The rapport between the two individuals is strained beyond reason. The source of this discord lies in the fact that the Portuguese coach doesn’t truly share the enthusiasm for KB9’s playing style and has never expressed the wish to recruit him.
According to Nuno Espírito Santo’s evaluations, Karim Benzema’s style of play doesn’t align with the team’s needs and, as a result, doesn’t meet the coach’s expectations. On his side, the winner of the 2022 Ballon d’Or has already had the opportunity to discuss with a high-ranking club official, expressing his discontent and feeling of being treated unprofessionally by his coach.
Another point of contention between the two individuals is the captain’s armband. As per the information revealed by the Asharq Al-Aswat media, during initial negotiations, Karim Benzema had requested the role of captain due to his considerable experience and status within the team. However, the Portuguese coach rejected this request, opting to bestow the armband upon Romarinho.
According to Saudi press reports, it was observed that Benzema was absent from the last training session. This information is verifiable as the photos published on the club’s Instagram account this Tuesday do not feature KB9 among the players. These signs hint at escalating tensions. If these dissensions persist, Nuno Espírito Santo’s position as coach would naturally be in jeopardy.
