Karim Benzema put an end to speculation about his future at the Saudi Pro League, confirming he has no intention of leaving his club this summer. “I’m gonna stay at Al Hilal,” the French forward said, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano, closing the door on a transfer saga that had picked up steam in recent days.
The rumors gained traction after reports from Diario AS and Sky Sports indicated Benzema was negotiating a possible contract termination with the club, with the 38-year-old reportedly out of manager Simone Inzaghi’s plans.
Tension appeared to boil over when Benzema showed visible frustration at being substituted during the Saudi Pro League opener win over Al Faisaly, despite having scored in the match. However, Inzaghi later played down any rift, saying he understood his striker’s desire to play every minute given his own playing career.
The uncertainty around Benzema’s situation had also fueled a far more sensational storyline, with reports floating Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami as a possible destination. However, with Benzema now publicly committing to stay, that scenario appears to be off the table.
Ollie Watkins turns down Saudi Arabia
With Benzema’s future uncertain, Al Hilal had reportedly identified Ollie Watkins as his potential replacement, but that pursuit has also stalled, at least from Aston Villa’s side. The Saudi club had submitted an official €45 million bid for the striker, according to Fabrizio Romano, and Watkins himself was reportedly open to making the switch.
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Villa, however, held firm, rejecting multiple approaches and instead moving to tie their striker down further, offering him a lucrative new contract to fend off the interest and keep one of Unai Emery’s most important players at Villa Park heading into another Champions League campaign.
With Benzema now publicly committing to stay, that search for a replacement striker no longer appears necessary, at least for the time being. His comments effectively take Watkins off Al Hilal’s radar and close the book on one of the more talked-about storylines of the Saudi transfer window.
