SUMMARY
- Karim Benzema faced criticism and social media backlash after Al-Ittihad's loss to Al-Nassr.
- Following the defeat and online abuse, Benzema reportedly deleted his Instagram account.
Karim Benzema hasn’t found his life in Saudi Arabia easy. The French striker moved to the Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad in 2023 after his contract at Real Madrid expired. While he acquired a legendary status at ‘Los Blancos’ for his impeccable scoring record, Benzema hasn’t been able to do the same for his new club. To make matters worse, his recent social media antic has left the 36-year-old’s fans puzzled.
🚨 Karim Benzema deleted his Instagram account after the loss against Al Nassr.
He was abused by Al Ittihad fans. 😲 pic.twitter.com/XrNguzDf0H
— TCR. (@TeamCRonaldo) December 30, 2023
Karim Benzema reportedly deleted his Instagram account after Al-Ittihad’s brutal 5-2 loss to Al-Nassr. Fans mercilessly abused the French striker who blamed Benzema for the loss. Karim Benzema looked very devastated after losing the match to a former teammate at Real Madrid, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Benzema’s club was routed 5-2 by a CR7-led Al-Nassr team, with the Portuguese scoring two penalties on the night. Senegalese star Sadio Mane joined the party as he applied two calm finishes to join the scoresheet. Al-Nassr’s fifth goal of the match was scored by Anderson Talisca.
Karim Benzema could not do much in the game besides giving an assist. The French striker isn’t in his best form, having scored only once in his last 4 games.
⏪ July 2009: Karim Benzema signs for Real Madrid and plays against Al-Ittihad in pre-season.
⏩ June 2023: Karim Benzema leaves Real Madrid and signs for Al-Ittihad. pic.twitter.com/NFrzIZg6Ui
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) June 7, 2023
The fans, therefore went berserk on the 36-year-old online. Benzema’s scoring record hasn’t pleased the fans who relentlessly trolled the French striker after Al-Ittihad’s loss. The backlash was long coming after Karim Benzema failed to convert a penalty in the club’s FIFA Club World Cup fixture against Al-Ahly on December 15, 2023. The Egyptian club won 3-1 on the night and knocked Al-Ittihad out of the competition.
The huge loss to rivals Al-Nassr means that the reigning Saudi Champions find themselves in danger of fighting mid-table mediocrity. Al-Ittihad has accumulated only 26 points from their first 18 games which puts the club in 6th position. While a win away at Al-Ittihad kept Al-Nassr’s title hopes intact who are second in the table.
Karim Benzema has had a troubling start to life in Saudi Arabia
It is safe to say that Karim Benzema’s experience playing in the Saudi Pro League has been far worse than he could imagine. What once was the poster boy of Real Madrid’s UEFA Champions League winning side in 21/22, is now constantly at odds with his new club’s supporters.
The 2022 Ballon d’Or winner has been criticized for his lack of professionalism and poor performances on the pitch. Karim Benzema has scored 12 goals in his first 20 appearances for Al-Ittihad but hasn’t won any trophies yet.
❗️Reports from Saudi are that Karim Benzema has left Jeddah to a new location. Some say he wastes very easy chances and seems to have lost the desire to play football. He missed training on Thursday and Friday as well, and deactivated his Instagram account. The reason for this is… pic.twitter.com/cpK904uxD5
— Madrid Universal (@MadridUniversal) December 30, 2023
The 36-year-old is also a constant target for Saudi Arabian journalists. Walid Al-Faraj, one of the Arab country’s leading journalists commented (via Goal), “The gap between Benzema and the public is growing day by day. He never managed to make a difference. And above all, he doesn’t make any effort. It’s as if he’s saying to the audience: ‘I’m just having fun with you’.”
Walid lashed at the French striker for his lack of motivation on the soccer pitch. He also referred to Al Nassr’s Cristiano Ronaldo, who, according to the journalist, has integrated well into the League.