Simone Inzaghi and the Al Hilal hierarchy are keen to part ways with Karim Benzema during the current transfer window, according to Sky Sports, but terminating the veteran striker’s contract faces major financial and legal hurdles.
Benzema remains under contract with the Saudi club until the summer of 2027. However, a significant portion of his salary is not paid directly by the club’s treasury, but rather funded by official Saudi authorities. Consequently, terminating his deal requires multi-party approval rather than a simple mutual agreement between the player and Al Hilal.
Offloading Benzema is considered a top priority for Al Hilal to free up space and resources for a new marquee striker, especially as Inzaghi believes the French forward does not fit his tactical framework for the upcoming season.
These developments follow a controversial incident during Al Hilal’s recent match against Al-Faisaly, where Benzema openly showed frustration after being substituted. His reaction reportedly angered Inzaghi, fueling further speculation about a rift between the manager and the player.
For his part, Benzema has made his stance clear: he is demanding the full remaining salary for the final year of his contract in exchange for departing on a free transfer and selecting his next destination independently.
Estimates place Benzema’s annual salary with Al Hilal at approximately €122 million before taxes—exceeding €10 million per month. This means the requested severance package for his final season could approach his full annual earnings, depending on contractual nuances and the breakdown of entity-backed financial commitments.
Despite the ongoing saga, Benzema finished strong last season with 9 goals in 13 appearances for Al Hilal, and opened the current campaign with a goal in a 4-2 victory over Al-Faisaly.
Ultimately, any resolution depends on approval from the Saudi Pro League and relevant authorities, making Benzema’s situation one of the most complex contractual disputes in Saudi football today.
