Al-Ittihad striker, Karim Benzema, has blamed his teammates for his three-month goal drought in Saudi Arabia
The former Real Madrid striker disclosed this while speaking with Action with Walid, accusing his teammates of not supporting him, as he battles through a three-month without a goal.
Benzema has struggled to hit the heights in Saudi Arabia like he did in his final years at Real Madrid, where he was crowned the best player in the world. Yet, the 2022 Ballon d’Or winner has claimed it is his team-mates inability to support him which is limiting his performances, rather than his own form.
The 36-year-old has scored just nine goals this season, 20 short of his former Real Madrid team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr.
When asked why he is not the same player at Real Madrid, he said, “It’s because it’s not the same game, it’s not the same players, I need to be helped.
“I need help on the pitch. I can’t win the game alone. I need a lot of things.”
Benzema signed for Al Ittihad last summer after his contract at Real Madrid expired.
While there are not many clubs that can compare to Real’s star power, Al Ittihad are Saudi Pro League champions and signed several other top stars from Europe.
N’Golo Kante and Fabinho left Chelsea and Liverpool respectively to sign for the Jeddah-based club, as well as Luiz Felipe from Real Betis and Jota from Celtic.
The France’s striker nightmare spell in Saudi has seen him allegedly miss training sessions and linked incessantly with a return to Europe.
He was reportedly dropped amid rumours of a bust-up with coach Marcelo Gallardo.
The latest outburst will do him little favours in cultivating a winning dressing room.
Despite debunking rumours that he was unhappy in Saudi Arabia previously, the narrative may change come the summer as he may feel inclined to depart Al-Ittihad to play alongside big players unless the club, once again, splash out on some big names.
