Al Hilal Club clarifies the details of ending the relationship with Karim Benzema and confirms its confidence in the Saudi Al-Ittihad

Prince Nawaf bin Saad, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Al Hilal Club Company, confirmed that ending the relationship with Frenchman Karim Benzema was “a sporting decision, and with Karim there was a new understanding, and I would like to thank him, as dealing with him was with the utmost professionalism and sophistication.”

He continued: Benzema accepts the decision to end the relationship, and I do not say exclusion. A player like Karim is not excluded, as he is a great player, but perhaps with the presence of Watkins, his chances may decrease, and for a player with his history, he must be frank about the general situation of the club. The understanding was completed very well, and I believe that the media statements from the club or the way the player bid farewell, and the player’s way of bidding farewell to the club, reflect the extent of sophistication and good dealing between the two parties.

He stressed: Karim is a great player with a very long history. He is an important player in the history of world football, and we wish him all the best.

In response to a question about the pressures demanding the dismissal of coach Simone Inzaghi after the end of last season, he explained: Al Hilal is a big team, and anyone who is in Al Hilal - whether it is a board of directors, a president, an administrator, a coach, or a player - must bear the pressures, and must listen and be open to the opinions of the fans.

He added: The fans will demand the termination of the services of the Board of Directors or others if the results worsen, but the work this season is promising and today’s match is a good example of that. Al-Ahly is a big club and I certainly do not underestimate its rights and history, so we are very happy to beat a big club with this result.

Regarding team harmony and correcting mistakes, he said: I think there is clear harmony. The team played a good match today and the last match also played well, despite the weather conditions that accompanied it, and the team is progressing in a good way. I think that if there are mistakes from us as management or mistakes from the coach and they are corrected, the issue is not stubbornness, but on the contrary, this is the positive thing. If there are mistakes on our part, or on the coach, or on the players, and they are corrected, then this is what is required.

He also expressed his full confidence in the new Board of Directors of the Saudi Football Association headed by Badr Al-Ruzaiza, thanking the previous board headed by Yasser Al-Meshal.

He said: The new council of the Saudi Football Association has a lot of work to do. After the four rounds that were played, there are entitlements before the team and we are all supposed to give them some time, and we trust, God willing, that Badr Al-Ruzaiza will do his job to the fullest.

He added: I also thank the former Board of Directors of the Football Association, despite our differences, and this always happens between sports bodies. But we would like to thank Yasser Al-Mashal. He certainly tried to perform, and he and the Council performed as much as possible. He may be right or wrong, just as we may be right or wrong. We thank them very much, and we wish success to the new council.