‘I Need Help’: Karim Benzema Breaks Silence on His Poor Form Since Joining Cristiano Ronaldo in SPL

• Karim Benzema has shed light on his struggles in Saudi Arabia
• The Frenchman has struggled to replicate his Real Madrid form
• The 36-year-old star has not scored since December 15, 2023

Karim Benzema has opened up about his challenges since joining Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League.

The French striker was among the notable names who made the move from Europe to the Gulf country, spearheaded by his former Real Madrid teammate, Cristiano Ronaldo.

However, while Ronaldo has adapted smoothly to life in Saudi Arabia, Benzema has encountered difficulties in finding his rhythm with the Jeddah-based outfit.

Diagnosing Benzema's struggles in Saudi

The 35-year-old has faced off-field issues, which have added to his struggles in one way or another.

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Reports initially surfaced of a rift between the one-time Ballon d'Or winner and former coach Nuno Espirito Santo, ultimately leading to Santo's dismissal after a series of poor results.

Meanwhile, ongoing speculation suggests that Benzema is unhappy in Jeddah and is considering a return to Europe, as noted by Forbes.

Amidst these challenges, his on-field performance has not matched his past successes, particularly during his final seasons at Real Madrid, where he played a pivotal role in securing the club's 14th Champions League title.

Unfortunately, Karim has failed to replicate his prior achievements in Saudi Arabia. Following successive penalty misses and bouts of misfortune, he was relieved of penalty-taking duties for the Tigers.

His replacement, Abderrazak Hamdallah, also faltered from the spot in their recent Saudi League encounter against Al Taawoun, which ended in a goalless draw.

Benzema explains his poor form in Saudi

After the match, Benzema was questioned about his dip in form, shedding light on the challenges he's faced since his move to Al-Ittihad.

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“Yes, because it is not the same game, it's not the same players. I need help. I need someone to help me on the pitch. I can't win one game alone. I need other players and a lot of things!,” he said as quoted by Sports Brief (via The Nassr Zone).

"But it's different. It's my first season in Saudi [Arabia]. I hope to finish well this season. I hope to win."

Benzema among top 5 strugglers

In a separate report, Sports Brief delves into the Saudi League, pinpointing five notable figures who haven't met the anticipated standards since joining.

Karim Benzema is one such figure. Despite arriving as a Ballon d'Or recipient, his tenure at Al-Ittihad has been turbulent.

Despite this, the former Real Madrid captain has managed to contribute 16 goals (9 goals and 7 assists) in 20 league appearances, demonstrating his quality despite facing challenges.