Karim Benzema’s dispute with Al-Hilal has taken a fresh turn after Al-Shabab expressed an interest in signing the France striker, although the proposed move currently faces firm opposition from the player.
Al-Shabab have asked the Saudi Pro League to help facilitate a potential deal after agreeing to pursue the experienced forward, according to sources quoted by Asharq Al-Awsat on Sunday.
However, Benzema remains unwilling to join Al-Shabab and has told Al-Hilal that he wants either to stay with the club or reach a mutual agreement to terminate his contract, provided he receives all of the money still owed to him.
The 38-year-old’s current agreement with Al-Hilal is scheduled to run until 30 June 2027. The report says Benzema earns $25m (£18.7m) a year under his direct contract with the club.
It also states that the value of his outstanding payments, calculated from September until the end of June 2030, is about $20.8m, equivalent to approximately 78.1m Saudi riyals.
Benzema’s financial relationship with Saudi football is not limited to his playing contract with Al-Hilal. Asharq Al-Awsat reported that he also has a separate agreement worth $23m a year until 2030, funded through the Saudi Pro League’s recruitment programme.
That second contract relates to Benzema’s role in promoting Saudi football and associated events. If it remains in force until 30 June 2030, the remaining payments under the agreement would amount to about 330.6m Saudi riyals.
The separate deal includes a clause preventing Benzema from playing outside Saudi Arabia while it is active. Should he move to a club outside the kingdom and play for that team, the contract would be cancelled immediately.
That provision makes a move to another Saudi Pro League side more attractive from a contractual perspective, because Benzema could retain the agreement running until 2030. Al-Shabab’s interest, however, has so far been met with a refusal from the striker to move to the club.
Al-Shabab would also need to resolve their squad situation before completing any attempt to sign him. The club must first remove their 30-year-old English player Josh Brownhill from the squad to create room for a move for Benzema.
Sources described Benzema’s position as the biggest obstacle to the proposed transfer, with the forward strongly opposed to wearing the Al-Shabab shirt.
He has also rejected the possibility of being registered only in Al-Hilal’s Asian squad for matches in the AFC Champions League Elite.
The latest developments leave Benzema’s future unresolved. His preferred options remain continuing with Al-Hilal or receiving the full value of his remaining financial commitments in a mutually agreed termination, while Al-Shabab’s attempt to bring him into their squad depends first on changing the player’s stance.
