Why Karim Benzema hasn't left Al-Hilal, despite the club wanting to get rid of him

Karim Benzema hasn’t left Al-Hilal, despite the Saudi Pro League side wanting him gone.

The Frenchman is no longer a vital piece of the puzzle for his current team.

Karim Benzema wants the final year of his Al-Hilal contract paid

Karim Benzema kicked off the 2026/27 Saudi Pro League campaign in style, scoring from the spot in a 4-2 victory for his team.

However, his performance on the field wasn’t enough to convince his side that he’s worth keeping around.

At the peak of his powers, the Frenchman was nothing short of sensational, with the striker renowned for his sublime finishing ability and tremendous football IQ.

The 2022 Ballon d’Or winner was undeniably, at one stage, up there with the very best players on the planet.

However, at 38, the superstar isn’t what he once was, with Al-Hilal preparing for the next chapter.

But despite the club’s desire to move on, doing so won’t be easy due to the structure of Benzema’s contract.

According to Sky Sports Ch, Benzema, who is partially paid by the country’s governing bodies, is in an interesting position because, in order to leave the club, an agreement must be reached between the goal-scorer, the Saudi League, and the relevant authorities.

On his end, Benzema has made his demand abundantly clear. The legend wants to receive the full amount for the last year of his contract so he can leave the Kingdom Arena on a free transfer with the option of choosing his next club. However, this concept is not preferred by Al-Hilal, the Saudi Pro League or Saudi political leaders.

The icon was brought to the Middle East, to enhance the profile of the league he’s currently playing in, and is well compensated for this. With this in mind, his potential exit has become a very complicated matter.