Namangan: Everyone in Namangan has been asking themselves, “Where is Karim Benzema?” as Al-Ittihad gets ready to play Navbahor of Uzbekistan in the opening leg of the AFC Champions League Round of 16, according to Arriyadiyah.
Local journalists and fans anxious to witness the 2022 Ballon d’Or winner in action have barraged Saudi media representatives in Uzbekistan with questions.
Sadly for his hordes of supporters, Marcelo Gallardo, the coach of Al-Ittihad, has stated that Karim Benzema will not be playing on Thursday night. Gallardo also disclosed that Benzema could be scheduled to play again in the Saudi Pro League the following week.
A sea of local supporters sang Benzema’s name as the Al-Ittihad players got off the team bus on Wednesday night for their training session at Navbahor’s stadium. Some of them asked the Saudi media group that was going with them where the star player was.
Many of them were upset that they were unable to witness Benzema, who has remained in Jeddah to finish his recovery from an injury.
The absence of Bezema was another topic of discussion at the pre-game news conference.
Gallardo was cited by Arriyadiyah on Wednesday as stating that Benzema should be back playing for the first team by next week.
The Argentinean called his choice to leave the French star out of the team that went to Uzbekistan “purely technical,” adding that Benzema would only be included to the team after he was completely recovered.
On February 22, Al-Ittihad and Navbahor will play their second leg in Jeddah.
