Karim Benzema had just helped Al Ittihad reach the semi-finals of the Saudi Arabian King’s Cup with two goals and a successful penalty in a shootout win against Al Hilal when thoughts turned to his former team.

“The Spanish Super Cup?” the 37-year-old former France striker said in the mixed zone of Riyadh’s Kingdom Arena. “A message: Hala Madrid.”

More than a year and a half has passed since Benzema bid farewell toReal Madrid, but he remains linked to the Bernabeu club as their second all-time top scorer with 354 goals — only behindCristiano Ronaldo’s 450.

This week, Madrid play in the Supercopa de Espana in Jeddah, the city where Al Ittihad are based. On Thursday, Benzema paid a visit to the hotel where Los Blancos are staying, greeting coach Carlo Ancelotti and his old team-mates before giving an interview to Real Madrid TV. He was in attendance for their semi-final win against Real Mallorca and was cheered by fans when his face appeared on screen.

🤍 Great to see you,@Benzema!#SuperSupercopapic.twitter.com/COeKZsHb44

— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden)January 9, 2025

“Do I feel the affection? Yes, yes,” Benzema told Real Madrid TV. “Every time I post photos on the internet or the last time I was in Madrid. I also feel the affection for them.

“In Jeddah, I think almost the whole city is (supporting) Madrid. You will see today that everyone is wearing white in the stadium (for the Supercopa semi-final againstMallorca).”

But it has not been all plain sailing since Benzema left the Spanish capital for Saudi Arabia.The Athletic spoke to multiple people with knowledge of the deal and his early months in Saudi Arabia to find out how it has gone for him so far. They were speaking anonymously to protect relationships.

Benzema’s move to Al Ittihad in June 2023 came as a shock to many.

The Frenchman was the Ballon d’Or holder and instantly became one of the leaders of Saudi Arabia’s state football project driven by its Public Investment Fund (PIF). Many have criticised Saudi Arabia for what they say is an attempt at ‘sportswashing’ the country’s poor human rights record. Benzema has never addressed these human rights concerns.

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PIF took control of Saudi Arabia’s four biggest clubs — Al Ahli, Al Hilal, Al Nassr and Al Ittihad — and drew up a list of transfer targets ranked by ability. Figures who had access to the list say Benzema was placed in ‘Tier Two’, meaning he could receive a salary of up to €100million ($103m; £83m at current exchange rates) a year.

At the time, Real Madrid sources consulted byThe Athletic said their then-captain Benzema had received an offer he could not refuse for him and his family. According to those close to the player, Benzema’s brother Gressy was one of the intermediaries in the deal and received a large commission.

(Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)

Sources from the Saudi club say they did not pay a transfer fee, while Madrid sources mentioned a “symbolic amount”.The French striker wasgiven a large contract that tied him to Al Ittihad until 2026 and beyond that as an ambassador for the country in its (now successful) bid to host the 2034 World Cup.

A few days after signing his contract, Benzema was given a hero’s welcome at Jeddah’s King Abdullah Sports City stadium. Sixty-thousand fans enjoyed a fireworks display and watched their headline signing lift his Ballon d’Or from 2022.

The ballon d'or is brightening up the stadium 🤩🔥#Benzema2Ittihadpic.twitter.com/iSFmuPFWNw

— Al-Ittihad Club (@ittihad_en)June 8, 2023

But the first cracks between the player and his club soon emerged.

While other Saudi teams, such as Ronaldo’s Al Nassr, signed stars likeSadio Mane from Liverpool and centre-backAymeric Laporte from Manchester City, Benzema felt his team did not reinforce in the same way.

Al Ittihad signed N’Golo Kante and Fabinho that summer and also made a £100million verbal offer for Mohamed Salah that was turned down by Liverpool. But they suffered several injuries that hampered the team then managed by Nuno Espirito Santo.

Sources close to Nuno and Benzema say neither of them were on the same page from very early on.

Nuno’s camp point to how, at the end of August 2023, the club decided to give the captain’s armband to Benzema without consulting the coach. Al Ittihad deny this. Nuno’s camp say that was among several decisions that caused him to lose authority in the dressing room. That November, Nuno was sacked after a run in which his team won twice in eight games.

Al Ittihad held talks with Julen Lopetegui that did not amount to anything. They eventually appointed the Argentine Marcelo Gallardo after his successful spell at River Plate, but Benzema’s fortunes did not improve. He was demotivated and struggled to adapt to his new home.

(Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)

Despite being a practising Muslim and living an hour away from Mecca, those close to Benzema say he noticed the contrast in his lifestyle after leaving Europe. In his first season with Al Ittihad, he travelled to Dubai in his private jet to escape and otherwise tried to surround himself with friends and family in Jeddah, where he owns two mansions.

Benzema’s concerns have not been limited to his new lifestyle.

After he moved to Saudi Arabia, several politicians and influential figures inFrance accused Benzema of having links to the Islamist organisation, the Muslim Brotherhood. Benzema denied those links and initiated defamation proceedings through his lawyers.

That coincided with a wave of criticism from a section of Al Ittihad fans who were angry with his performances. After a 5-2 league defeat by Ronaldo’s Al Nassr, the Frenchman decided to delete his Instagram account for a few weeks.

The striker took a similar decision just as he left Madrid, when he stopped following the Spanish club on social media before doing so again four days later. His camp says he is an extremely reserved and sometimes impulsive person.

The situation at Benzema’s new club came to a head in the winter transfer window, when the strikerwent on holiday without permission from Al Ittihad. Gallardo’s coaching staff decided to remove him from the squad.

AsThe Athletic reported,Lyon explored the possibility of Benzema returning to his boyhood club. His brother Gressy was again involved and Al Ittihad were informed of negotiations, but the finances involved — among other reasons — meant no deal was agreed.

(Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)

It was reminiscent of the circumstances around former Liverpool captainJordan Henderson’s Al Ettifaq exit after six months in Saudi Arabia. But the prospect of Benzema’s departure was far more worrying from the league’s perspective.

Sources at Al Ittihad and the player’s entourage say this is why the alternative of moving to another team in Saudi Arabia was considered: to keep Benzema happy so he would not leave the country.

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CEO Domingos Soares and sporting director Ramon Planes had just been appointed and wanted to provide stability given their experience in Europe. Soares had previously been chief executive of Benfica, and Planes has worked as sporting director atBarcelona andReal Betis, among other clubs.

“Because of his career and his Muslim background, Karim was a great reference point, as Salah could be next year (2025),” a senior figure at Al Ittihad toldThe Athletic. “That’s why it was so important that his story went well.”

After several days of doubts and meetings, at the end of January 2024, Benzema decided to stay at Al Ittihad.

They finished fifth in his first season there, 42 points behind the champions Al Hilal. Benzema went the entire second half of the season without scoring and suffered a muscle injury that led to treatment in Madrid, meaning he missed the last seven games. He finished with 13 goals and eight assists in 29 matches.

“I don’t like to talk about last season, but it’s true that there were a lot of problems… We were not focused enough on football,” Benzema said in an interview with the Saudi Pro League’s official media in August 2024.

“Benzema came to a team that had been champions (in the 2022-23 season) in a league that had nothing to do with what it became just a year later and that did not correspond to his level,” says the senior figure.

In the summer, the club realised they had to rebuild if they wanted to keep Benzema. That led to them signing midfielder Houssem Aouar from Lyon and forward Moussa Diaby from Aston Villa. Both were attracted by the idea of playing alongside the five-timeChampions League winner.

That was not the only change. After 33 games and having become distanced from the team’s star player, Gallardo was sacked. Laurent Blanc was his replacement — who Benzema already knew from his time as France coach from 2010-2012.

“It’s a philosophy I’ve liked for a long time. He’s someone you can talk to and exchange ideas with,” Benzema said in that interview with the Saudi Pro League.

(Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)

The team have settled on a 4-3-3 system since Blanc’s arrival, with Aouar making runs from midfield and Diaby on the wing. Both have combined well with Benzema and the style of play has been more attacking.

“Blanc’s style is very similar to (Carlo) Ancelotti’s (at Real Madrid): he is very intelligent, experienced and adapts to the players,” the senior figure says. “Benzema is now at an incredible level.”

The club are satisfied with Benzema, who they say is much more comfortable. He has scored 12 goals and provided three assists in 12 games, with Al Ittihad two points clear of second-placed Al Hilal at the top of the table.

His physiotherapist with Real Madrid, Juan Muro, is still with him in Saudi Arabia whilehis physical trainer Javier Atalaya occasionally travels to see him. Those close to him and at the club say he is committed.

There have been rumours of a return to the newly revamped Bernabeu for a tribute match, but the Saudi side are unaware of this. In the meantime, Benzema has built himself a new home in Madrid but those close to him say it is unclear when he will return due to tax reasons.

Those same voices say the United Arab Emirates could be a possible destination for Benzema to spend the rest of his playing days. But a spokesperson for the Saudi project said Benzema will continue to be associated with them as an ambassador for the 2034 World Cup regardless of what happens.

It seems the twists and turns of Benzema’s time in Saudi Arabia are not done just yet.

(Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)