Benzema rejects Al-Hilal's decision, putting the management in a difficult position

Al-Hilal faces a complex situation regarding its French striker, Karim Benzema, after a technical proposal within the club sparked controversy about the possibility of changing his status in the squad before the start of the new season. The Al-Hilal management is considering transferring some of its foreign players to the Asian Champions League squad, including Benzema and Senegalese defender Kalidou Koulibaly, with the aim of giving the coaching staff more flexibility in managing the pressure of matches and distributing workloads during a season that includes both domestic and continental competitions. However, the proposal has met with clear rejection from Benzema, who insists on remaining on the squad that competes in all tournaments, refusing the idea of ​​being excluded from domestic competitions. This has placed the club's management in a difficult position that requires careful consideration to maintain team stability. The French striker's stance comes after a period that has fallen short of expectations since his move to Al-Hilal during the last winter transfer window, following his departure from Al-Ittihad due to disagreements over contract renewal. Despite his individual statistics – having participated in 13 matches for Al-Hilal, scoring 9 goals and providing 5 assists – the team failed to win either the Saudi League title or the AFC Champions League, which has opened the door to discussion about his role in the upcoming phase. In contrast, Coulibaly showed flexibility towards the coaching staff's vision and did not object to the idea of ​​being included in the Asian squad, while Al-Hilal's management continues to evaluate all options before making a final decision. The club's management is striving to reach a formula that ensures the team benefits from all its players while avoiding any internal issues that could affect its preparations for the new season.