Stories on the football pitch are always full of surprises and challenges, and Benzema's encounter in Saudi Arabia undoubtedly gives us more food for thought. As the heart of the team, Benzema's absence has shocked and puzzled many fans as much as I did. The reason for this is that Benzema violated the team's discipline and requirements.
A dispute between Benzema and Gallardo, the coach of Jeddah United, which seems to have become another low point in his career. Not participating in group training and refusing to train individually is intolerable in any professional team. Gallardo, in order to maintain the team's discipline, made the difficult decision to exclude Benzema from the AFC Champions League squad. Although such a punishment is severe, it has to be said that it is a warning to other players.
However, Gallardo's handling of Benzema is still quite measured, and he did not make the problem completely public, but gave a statement of "poor physical condition", leaving a glimmer of hope for Benzema's return. This kind of treatment, to a certain extent, protects the player's face and also gives Benzema the opportunity to make corrections.
However, Benzema's time in Saudi Arabia has not been so easy. His altercation with the previous boss and his perception of the Saudi fans as a problem-maker, all of which made him feel ununderstood and disrespected. Although he did not perform well on the field, he did not like the Saudi football environment. This discomfort, combined with the clash with the team's management, gave Benzema the idea of returning to Europe.
Benzema's attempt to push for a return to Europe was rejected by the Jeddah United hierarchy. They even suggested that if Benzema wanted to leave, he would have to choose to go on loan to another Saudi team. Such a proposal is undoubtedly another blow to Benzema's will, and his future seems to be even more uncertain.
As regular football fans, we can't dive into the more detailed stories behind it, but it's certain that every professional player's career won't be smooth sailing. Benzema's experience in Saudi Arabia may have been an important turning point in his career. In the face of difficulties, he needs not only to solve the conflict with the team, but also to find his inner peace and love for football.
As fans, we want to see the struggle on the pitch, not the strife off the pitch. I hope that Benzema can find his own path as soon as possible, and continue to shine in both Saudi Arabia and Europe.