Frenchman Karim Benzema was ready to return to his former club, Olympique Lyonnais, during the summer transfer period, and spend one season with the team without receiving a salary, but his commitment to a contract with the Saudi League extending until 2030 prevented the move from being completed.
According to the French newspaper "L'Equipe", Lyon officials have already studied the possibility of bringing back Benzema this summer, an information that was confirmed by those around the player who won the Ballon d'Or in 2022. The 38-year-old striker was very enthusiastic about the idea of ending his career in the club in which he grew up, and without financial compensation, due to his connection to Lyon and the city in which he was born.
Benzema had not yet been released from his contract with Al Hilal, before he became a free player a week ago after ending the final year of his contract by mutual consent, while receiving his full financial dues.
The French striker's relationship with Italian coach Simone Inzaghi was not at its best, at a time when the latter wanted to sign a new striker, which was finally achieved by including Englishman Ollie Watkins, 30 years old, from Aston Villa for approximately 60 million euros, equivalent to about 261 million riyals.
During his experience in Saudi Arabia, Benzema won the league title and two cup championships, in addition to receiving the best player award in the league. However, during the recent period, he began to feel some fatigue regarding his experience in the competition, despite the fact that during the summer he underwent an intensive personal physical preparation program, in preparation for what he expected to be the last season of his career.
The main obstacle to Benzema's return to France is his continued association with a Saudi football promotional contract until 2030, a contract that the player wants to respect and fulfill his obligations.
Under these circumstances, Benzema's retirement from football has become one of the most likely possibilities, especially since his promotional contract extends until 2030, when the player will have reached 43 years old.
Benzema is still closely linked to Lyon, his first club and city, and returns to it whenever he has the opportunity, while his picture adorns a huge mural on a building in the Bron area, where he grew up and started playing football.
His potential return would have been a major sporting and marketing gain for Lyon, as the club expected his presence to lead to a significant increase in seasonal subscriptions and shirt sales.
Benzema previously spoke last December about the possibility of returning to Lyon, explaining that taking such a step is not easy after he left behind a distinguished image, and that sometimes it is better to leave things as they are.
Benzema left Lyon in 2009 after winning four French League titles and winning the tournament's Best Player award, to move to Real Madrid, where he won five Champions League titles in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2022, before achieving his biggest dream of winning the Ballon d'Or.
Prince Fahd bin Jalawi bin Abdulaziz, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Camel Federation, crowned, on Saturday, the camel owners who won the cups of the Crown Prince Camel Festival in the “Al-Haqayeq” category and the two cups of the festival for Saudi production, the first competition of which was launched last Thursday, on the grounds of the historic Taif Camel Racing Field.
The festival's eighth edition competitions were launched on the historic Taif Camel Racing Field, under the patronage of Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and will continue until September 13, organized by the Saudi Camel Federation, with huge financial prizes exceeding 50 million riyals.
The horse “Al-Zaeem” for its Saudi owner Musa Al-Moussa snatched the title of the second half and the Crown Prince Camel Festival Cup for the Al-Haqayeq category “Qa’dan - Open” with a time of 2:52.705 minutes, in addition to winning the best timing.
The first, third and fourth round cups also went to Emirati camels, as they achieved the first half title and the Crown Prince Festival Cup “Bakar - Open” by the horse “Fakhr” owned by Hamad Al Ameri with a time of 2:57.651 minutes, and the third half title and the Crown Prince Festival Cup “Bakar - General” by the horse “Sorouh” owned by Mana Al Shamsi with a time of 2:57.699 minutes, and the fourth half title and the Crown Prince Festival Cup “Qadan - General”. For the horse “Jalmud”, owned by Hamad Al-Amri, with a time of 2:57.673 minutes.
In the two races produced by Saudi Arabia, the horse “Waad” by its owner, Oqab Al-Dahasi, won the title of the fifth race and the Crown Prince Festival Cup “Bakar - General” with a time of 2:55.901 minutes, and the horse “Munadi” by its owner Nayef Al-Sahli won the title of the sixth race and the Cup of the Crown Prince Festival “Qadan - General” with a time of 3:00.189 minutes.
Yesterday, 33 rounds were held, including 21 general rounds. 6 open rounds, and 6 rounds for the Crown Prince Festival Cup, in the presence of a large crowd, while the morning period witnessed the Saudi camels being crowned first place in 17 out of 21 rounds, compared to 3 rounds for Qatari camels, and one round for Emirati camels.
The festival strengthened its presence at the international level with the large participation of camel owners in the Arab and international world. It aims to consolidate the camel heritage and enhance Saudi culture, while the festival has achieved great economic returns, by organizing various activities that support the heritage heritage, and promote its preservation and development, which reflects the cultural depth of the Kingdom.
