Karim Benzema’s Struggles Continue in Saudi Arabia As Al-Ittihad Fans Grow Frustrated With Frenchman

• Karim Benzema has scored 12 goals for Al-Ittihad in 20 games since joining the side from Real Madrid
• Al-Ittihad supporters are reportedly calling Benzema 'Kitty' as they have slowly turned on the Frenchman
• Benzema went AWOL before his side's last game, but the club reportedly knew about his request to leave

Karim Benzema’s dream move to Al-Ittihad is slowly turning into a nightmare.

The French star made the move to Saudi Arabia in July 2023 after 14 years at Real Madrid.

Despite being at the club for six months, there appears to be concern over his future at the Saudi side.

Get Football News France reported that Al-Ittihad are not willing to let Benzema leave in the upcoming January transfer window.

Benz is contracted to the club until 2026 but has been criticised by the media in the Kingdom of late. Fans are also reportedly unhappy with the French striker and have given him the nickname ‘kitty.’

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Benzema goes AWOL?

Another source of contention with fans is Benzema’s recent absence from the team.

Forbes recently reported that the striker allegedly went AWOL before Al-Ittihad’s December 30 fixture against Al-Tai. It’s said that Benzema left Jeddah the day before the game and did not train with the side either.

Despite the reports of him being absent without leave, journalist Rudy Galetti confirmed that the club knew about Benzema’s unavailability because he asked their permission.

Benzema’s stint at Al-Ittihad

The French striker has already played 20 games for the Saudi club, scoring 12 goals and notching up five assists.

While his scoring return hasn’t been poor, the club are still disappointed with Benzema’s performances. A source close to the club disclosed this, saying they were expecting more from the former Madrid star.

Benzema deletes Instagram account

Following this humbling loss, the former Ballon d'Or winner seemingly succumbed to the pressure, as reports suggest he either deleted or suspended his Instagram account, which had 76 million followers.

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As it stands now, the reason behind the Frenchman's choice remains uncertain, leaving speculation about whether it's a temporary break from social media, Sports Brief reported.

Benzema ranked as the fifth most-followed footballer on the platform, with only Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappe boasting higher numbers of followers.