Karim Benzema has reportedly been excluded from Al-Ittihad’s Dubai training camp due to his failure to attend various club events.
According to Marca, the French striker was required to report to the club’s facilities in Jeddah by Friday as they resumed training following an extended break.
However, Benzema allegedly did not show up, prompting Ittihad manager Marcelo Gallardo to make the decision to remove him from the travelling squad to Dubai.
This incident is not the first instance of Benzema’s apparent disregard for club commitments. The report highlights that the forward missed three training sessions in Jeddah at the end of 2023, just before the holiday period for the Saudi Pro League side.
His previous conflicts with manager Nuno Espirito Santo were also well documented and contributed to the Portuguese manager’s dismissal in November. Nuno Espirito Santo has since joined Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.
There is a growing sense in the Middle East that the Ballon d’Or winner is falling short of expectations. Benzema faced criticism for his performance against Al-Nassr and former Real Madrid teammate Cristiano Ronaldo on Boxing Day, where Ittihad suffered a 5-2 defeat, with Ronaldo scoring two goals and Benzema failing to find the net.
Following widespread criticism, Benzema seemingly deleted his Instagram account.
These recent developments raise questions about the 36-year-old’s future, with prominent European clubs seeking immediate solutions in the forward position.
However, in the short term, Benzema is ineligible for participation in the Dubai training camp, as his absence meant he was never officially registered.