Namangan: As Al-Ittihad prepare to take on Navbahor of Uzbekistan in the AFC Champions League Round of 16 first leg, the question “where is Karim Benzema?” has been on everyone’s lips in Namangan, Arriyadiyah reported.
Members of the Saudi media present in the Uzbek city have been bombarded with questions from local journalists as well as fans eager to see the 2022 Ballon d’Or winner in action.
Unfortunately for his army of fans, the French striker will not be making an appearance on Thursday night, as confirmed by Al-Ittihad coach Marcelo Gallardo, who revealed that Benzema could however be in line for a return to action in the Saudi Pro League next week.
As Al-Ittihad’s players disembarked from the team bus on Wednesday night for their training session at Navbahor’s stadium, they were met with a throng of local fans chanting Benzema’s name, some of whom inquired of the accompanying Saudi media delegation about the whereabouts of the star player.
Several of them expressed frustration at missing the opportunity to watch Benzema, who has stayed in Jeddah to complete his rehabilitation from injury.
At the pre-match press conference, attention also focused on Bezema’s absence.
On Wednesday, Arriyadiyah quoted Gallardo as saying he expected Benzema to return to first-team action next week.
The Argentine described his decision to exclude the French star from the squad that traveled to Uzbekistan as “purely technical,” and said Benzema would return to the squad only when fully fit.
The second leg between Al-Ittihad and Navbahor will take place in Jeddah on Feb. 22.
