Benzema ‘to return’ to Al-Ittihad talk dismissed by club source | OneFootball

Al-Ittihad have dismissed talk of Karim Benzema returning this summer. According to Koooora, a club source said the rumours have no basis and the idea is not under consideration.

The French forward is closing in on a financial settlement with Al-Hilal after both parties reached a dead end. He failed to submit his credentials in the required manner, and the club also signed England striker Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa.

Al-Ittihad are instead weighing up a new foreign winger once Moussa Diaby's departure to Bayer Leverkusen is finalised.

Head coach Jens Wissing is convinced by his front pairing of Youssef En-Nesyri and George Ilenikhena and plans to rely on them in the coming period.

Benzema joined Al-Ittihad in summer 2023 after leaving Real Madrid and helped deliver the league and King's Cup in 2024-2025. In January 2026 the club terminated his contract and he moved to Al-Hilal.

He played 87 matches for Al-Ittihad, scoring 57 goals with 14 assists across domestic, continental and Arab competitions. For Al-Hilal he has featured in 16 games, scoring 10 with 5 assists. Despite those numbers, he has not produced in the biggest matches when most needed.

He wanted to stay at Al-Hilal, but head coach Simone Inzaghi has other ideas.

Source: Goal.com

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