Karim Benzema ‘DENIES claims that he wants to leave Saudi giants Al-Ittihad’ in January… despite Man United’s ‘interest in the forward’ after Omar Berrada’s arrival as CEO

Karim Benzema has reportedly denied claims that he wants a move away from Saudi giants Al-Ittihad, according to reports.

On Tuesday, reports from France claimed that the former Real Madrid striker had requested to leave the club after feeling ‘under pressure’ at Al-Ittihad. 

According to AFP, in response, Al-Ittihad offered to loan the striker to another team in the Saudi championship, however the idea was refused by Benzema.

The same source claimed that the 36-year-old feels ‘unable to give the best of himself to Al-Ittihad because of the pressure’. 

However, new reports from France now claim that the forward has not made any such request and instead ‘wants players of his calibre’. 

Reports had suggested that the striker was seeking an exit from the Saudi Pro League

According to L’Equipe, a relative to Benzema said: ‘It’s false, these are media inventions because Karim doesn’t train with the team. 

The outlet claim that Benzema himself said: ‘This is completely false!’ The media no longer knows what to invent’.

Benzema’s relative then, reportedly, continued: ‘The bigger the better. In fact, Karim wants valuable recruitments, he wants players of his calibre’.

The 2022 Ballon d’Or winner had been linked with a potential move to the Premier League, with Chelsea and Manchester United seen as viable options. 

The Red Devils, in particular, are seen as a likely destination for Benzema given the recent arrival of Omar Berrada as the club’s chief executive officer. 

The major coup – the first of the Ratcliffe-INEOS era – sees the highly-regarded exec move from cross-town rivals Manchester City. 

The former France international has one of the most impressive trophy cabinets in the game

Omar Berrada left his role at Manchester City to become Man United’s new chief executive

According to L’Equipe, Berrada is known to have a close relationship with the leaders of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) – who would be in charge of Benzema’s potential transfer.

Yassir Al-Rumayyan is the governor of PIF, the state’s sovereign wealth fund that acquired an 80 per cent stake in Newcastle United in 2021. 

Rumours of Benzema’s unhappiness emerged after the 2022 Ballon d’Or winner incensed his current employers, who were expecting to him to report back on January 2 ahead the side’s mid-season training camp. 

A source close to the club told France 24 that they had been unable to reach him for 10 days.

According to Marca, as a result, Benzema has been omitted from the trip to Dubai by manager Marcelo Gallardo and continues to gear up for the league’s resumption on February 7 on his own. 

The outlet claim that the 36-year-old had insisted that his tardiness was due to a cyclone that hit the island of Mauritius where he had been holidaying. 

However, Al-Ittihad were already angered by his absence from three training sessions prior to end of last year. 

The 2022 Ballon d’or winner incensed his current employers, who were expecting to him to report back on January 2 ahead the side’s mid-season training camp

Henderson joined Ajax earlier this month after departing Saudi side Al-Ettifaq

The news comes amid reports of the 36-year-old making a quick exit from the club and completing a fairytale return to his boyhood club Lyon this month. 

The former France international has now become the latest of last summer’s high-profile recruits reportedly angling for a move away. 

Former Liverpool captain called an end to his time in Saudi Arabia earlier this month, when he terminated his deal at Al-Ettifaq in favour of a return to European football. 

Henderson signed a contract at the Dutch giants lasting two-and-a-half years, until June 30, 2026, after leaving the Saudi Pro League.