Karim Benzema has a meeting scheduled for Wednesday with Al Ittihad officials to discuss his future, according to 'Marca'. He already had a first meeting with the Saudi Arabian club on Tuesday, but there was no agreement between the parties: the club is reluctant to let him leave. Meanwhile, in England he is targeted by Arsenal and Chelsea.
Karim Benzema is not exactly at his best at the moment. According to the latest reports, the player did not show up for the Saudi team's pre-season training camp and the club punished him by leaving him out of the first team's plans. Al Ittihad coach Marcelo Gallardo does not count on him and the Frenchman would like to return to Europe.
'Marca' claims that, in addition to Olympique Lyon, one of his former teams, Arsenal and Chelsea would have a place for the striker in their ranks. These clubs have not only spoken to Benzema's entourage, they have also approached Al Attihad to find out if they would be willing to transfer him.
According to the source quoted above, Olympique Lyon, Arsenal and Chelsea have doubts about the deal. Firstly because Al Ittihad are not going to make things easy for the striker if he wants to leave. Secondly, because the contract difference that Benzema will have if he joins any of these clubs will be huge. To return to Europe, he will have to be paid considerably less than what the Saudi side is paying him.
Benzema's future, for better or worse, could be decided on Wednesday. The Spanish daily reports that throughout the day the player and the club will meet again to reach an agreement which, at the moment, seems far off.
Benzema is not comfortable and Al Ittihad do not understand how the player wants to leave when he has only been in Saudi Arabia for 6 months. He arrived with a star tag like Cristiano or Neymar and is reluctant to let him leave.
Dragging this situation out will not do much good and both Benzema and Al Ittihad are aware of this. Perhaps, for that reason, the two will come to an agreement so that they can go their separate ways.