Article by Tudor Belivacă – Published Thursday, January 29, 2026 10:15 p.m. / Updated Thursday, January 29, 2026 10:38 p.m.
According to the French press, the management of Al Ittihad would have proposed Karim Benzema a contract extension through which to collect money only from the image rights, without being paid for the actual activity as a footballer. The Frenchman has entered the last 6 months of his contract, and the mercato period in Saudi Arabia closes next week.
Karim Benzema, irritated at the height of the new extension proposal from Al Ittihad: he would play “for free” and collect from image rights
The situation between Benzema and the money-pumping Saudi Pro League has suddenly soured as the French star was promised a new contract last summer. However, the first concrete offer only came from SPL director of football Michael Emenalo on Wednesday, just five days before the transfer window closed.
This offer, considered offensive by the player's entourage, was perceived as a lack of respect. It is explained that, apart from the image rights, extending the contract under these conditions would amount to “playing for free”. Benzema has withdrawn from the squad as a result, and refuses to play again, according to the Frenchquoted by sportal.blic.rs.
This is a major sporting blow for the team led by Sergio Conceicao as they lose their captain, a key player in the current season.
Karim Benezema joined Al Ittihad in 2023 from Real Madrid as a free agent. The Frenchman trained at the Lyon academy, and made his senior football debut for the Hexagon team.
He was bought by Real Madrid in 2009 for the sum of 35 million euros, and for 14 years he was the player of the blanco team. The 2022 Ballon d'Or has 648 matches at Real Madrid, 354 goals and 156 assists.
For Al Ittihad he managed to collect 83 matches, 54 goals and 17 assists. This season, the Frenchman has impressive numbers: 21 matches and 16 goals in all competitions.
6millions of euros is Karim Benzema's market share, according to specialized websites
