According to SPORT, French striker Karim Benzema has declined to leave Saudi Pro League (SPL) club Al-Hilal, despite the club’s attempts to push him out.
The 38-year-old joined Al-Hilal on a free transfer in January but the club aims to offload him before the new season begins.
However, Benzema is under contract until 2027 and has no intention of departing the Riyadh-based club unless he is adequately compensated.
He transitioned to the SPL in 2023 after an illustrious career at Real Madrid. After spending two and a half seasons with Al-Ittihad, he made a surprise switch to Al-Hilal.
Now, Al-Hilal seeks to part ways with the 2022 Ballon d’Or winner to free up one of their limited foreign player slots.
Yet, Benzema has firmly stated that he will not leave under the current terms set by the club.
The experienced forward is committed to fulfilling his contract and has rejected all offers presented to him this summer.
This unwavering stance has complicated Al-Hilal’s transfer strategy, prompting club officials to seek a mutually agreeable solution.
The club has also considered transferring Benzema to one of the newly promoted SPL teams, but that proposal was quickly rejected.
While he is not entirely opposed to leaving, Benzema has made it clear that he would only agree to terminate his contract if Al-Hilal compensates him for the full salary due during the final year of his agreement.
This arrangement would facilitate his entry into the market as a free agent, allowing him to select his next club without restrictions from his current team.