JEDDAH — In a surprising turn of events, French star Karim Benzema, who plays for Saudi Arabia's Al Ittihad Club, has temporarily withdrawn from the social media platform Instagram following his team's stunning defeat against Al Nassr in the 17th round of the Saudi Professional League. The match concluded with Al Nassr dominating by a score of five goals to two, a game that clearly highlighted the winning team's superiority. This raised questions about Benzema's performance and the highly anticipated brilliance he was expected to bring to Al Ittihad. Following the defeat, criticisms from fans and sports analysts poured in, reflecting the disappointment in the French star's performance. Benzema was heavily relied upon to boost the team's standing in the league, but the combined pressure from fans and media seems to have pushed him to deactivate his personal account and step back from the limelight. Observers of the match noted that Benzema did not perform to the expected level, which reflected on the team's overall performance. His recent performance was compared to previous matches where he did not shine with Al Ittihad, suggesting that psychological and physical pressures might have impacted his ability to deliver his best. In light of these circumstances, attention is now focused on how Benzema and Al Ittihad Club will handle the current situation. The club's technical and administrative staff are expected to work on boosting the player's morale and restoring him to his usual form. It is noteworthy that Benzema joined Al Ittihad in the summer of 2023 from Real Madrid, and his arrival was considered a significant acquisition for the Saudi club. Since his arrival, expectations from Al Ittihad fans have been high for the French star, who is regarded as one of the world's top forwards. However, Benzema has struggled to deliver the expected performance and shine in his recent matches, especially following the significant defeat in the classic match. This led him to the decision to deactivate his Instagram account, possibly as a means to focus on improving his performance and handling the psychological pressure. Despite this, the future of Benzema remains a subject of anticipation for fans and officials at Al Ittihad. Will this French star regain his known attacking prowess, or does deactivating his Instagram account indicate a deeper crisis he is experiencing? This question lingers in everyone's mind, and time will reveal the answer.
