The former French player is confident that Karim Benzema will energize the Red Devils, but he also criticizes the management team leader for failing to provide Rasmus Hojlund with the necessary support in the center of the field, resulting in the 20-year-old Danish striker’s lack of goals in his Premier League debut.
Saha told Goal: “If Benzema joins Manchester United’s attack, it will be a great help. That is exactly what they require. He will surely score goals and enhance his playmaking. Because Benzema is still a professional, Hojlund may learn a lot from him as a striker. Either way, this is just a dream.”
Hojlund, who cost 72 million pounds to sign with Manchester United in the summer of 2023, only recently scored his first Premier League goal on Christmas Eve against Aston Villa despite scoring five goals in the Champions League.
Erik ten Hag’s team will be looking to start 2024 strong after winning only once in their previous four Premier League games. On January 9, the Red Devils play their first game of the year at 3:15 p.m., away to Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup third round.
In the meantime, Benzema has only created mayhem in Al Ittihad. There was a lot of conjecture regarding Benzema’s future at the reigning Saudi Pro League because he skipped training and left Saudi Arabia.
The 36-year-old striker is not on the preparation list for the match against Al Tai on December 30, 2023, and has not visited the training field since December 28, 2023, according to the Spanish publication AS. But then, a lot of rain forced the postponement of the game.
Following several days of Benzema’s unspecified absence, an unnamed Al Ittihad management announced that he had made his way back to Madrid, the capital of Spain.
“Benzema made his way back to Madrid due to unique circumstances. He requested a few days off, and the club granted his request. He is a member of the club and a professional player,” the manager continued.
The media in Saudi Arabia is responding negatively to Benzema’s disobedient actions. The “special circumstances” that helped Benzema depart the club were questioned by some tabloids. Some speculate that the owner of the 2022 Golden Ball wants to exit the Saudi Pro League because he is not happy with Al Ittihad.
“Benzema won’t put up any effort. He appears to have lost interest in playing football and squander opportunities easily, according to a Saudi Arabian source cited by the AS newspaper.
According to a different viewpoint, Benzema was dissatisfied with Al Ittihad. If the Saudi Arabian club did not purchase more elite players to bolster the roster, he vowed to leave.
Al Ittihad signed Benzema in the summer of 2023, offering him a salary of over $200 million USD year, which is comparable to what Cristiano Ronaldo made at Al Nassr. But after that, things weren’t exactly going well for Benzema and Al Ittihad.
Benzema was reported to be at odds with coach Nuno Santo after scoring 15 goals in 24 games. Nuno Santo was fired by Al Ittihad on November 7 and Marcelo Gallardo, a former River Plate coach, was invited to take over as coach.
“Hojlund is at the right club, but it’s unfair to put him in charge of being the number nine without an experienced player to help him,” he said. Although you can have attacking midfielders and adept wingers, being a great striker is difficult. I don’t suppose Hojlund can see this, therefore you’ll need someone to explain you how to run in the box. That kind of stuff is difficult in the Premier League. My playing companions were Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ruud van Nistelrooy. I had the opportunity to observe those legends and learn runs and tactics from them.Hojlund, who signed for Manchester United for 72 million pounds in the summer of 2023, only recently scored his first Premier League goal against Aston Villa on Christmas Eve, despite scoring five goals in the Champions League.Erik ten Hag’s squad will be hoping to start 2024 on a high note after only winning one of their previous four Premier League games. On January 9, at 3:15 p.m., the Red Devils play their opening game of the season away against Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup third round.In the meantime, Benzema has only caused havoc in Al Ittihad. There was much speculation about Benzema’s future in the reigning Saudi Pro League after he skipped training and left Saudi Arabia.The 36-year-old striker is not on the preparation list for the match against Al Tai on December 30, 2023, and has not been to the training ground since December 28, 2023, according to Spanish daily AS. However, the game was postponed due to heavy rains.I have no idea.Following several days of Benzema’s unspecified absence, anonymous Al Ittihad management declared that he had returned to Madrid, Spain’s capital.”Due to peculiar circumstances, Benzema returned to Madrid. He asked for a few days off, and the club granted his request. “He is a club member and a professional player,” the manager added.The Saudi media has reacted adversely to Benzema’s defiant conduct. Some newspapers questioned the “special circumstances” that led to Benzema’s departure from the club. Some assume that the owner of the 2022 Golden Ball wishes to leave the Saudi Pro League because he is dissatisfied with Al Ittihad.”Benzema will not put out any effort. He appears to have lost interest in football and wastes opportunities, according to a Saudi source published by the AS daily.
According to another interpretation, Benzema was disappointed with Al Ittihad. He threatened to quit if the Saudi club did not add more great players to its list.Al Ittihad signed Benzema in the summer of 2023, promising him a salary of more than $200 million USD per year, similar to what Cristiano Ronaldo earned at Al Nassr. But after that, things didn’t go so smoothly for Benzema and Al Ittihad.No single player is to blame. Football involves eleven players. This is a football match, not a tennis one. We’re talking about one of the world’s best players, who has won the most championships and made history with Real Madrid, the greatest team,” the speaker said.With Real Madrid, Benzema won four La Liga titles and five Champions League crowns. After his fifth Champions League victory in 2022, the 36-year-old striker was awarded the Golden Ball.Because many players must return in January to compete in the African and Asian championships, the Saudi Pro League will take a break until February.Jadon Sancho wants to return to Dortmund, his home.It might be a group of one, a group of two, a group of three, or a group of four.After Sergio Reguilon returned to Tottenham and Van de Beek left on loan to Eintracht Frankfurt for the rest of the season, Jadon Sancho is also likely to leave Old Trafford.Transfer analyst Fabrizio Romano commented on Jadon Sancho’s desire to rejoin Borussia Dortmund, stating, “Jadon Sancho is pushing for a transfer move, so the deal for him to return to Borussia Dortmund is moving quickly and the negotiations are going very well.” His time at Manchester United has not been smooth; following disagreements with Erik ten Hag and the coaching staff, he was dropped from the team.Sancho also had the opportunity to join Juventus, but the Serie A club opted to invest in other players rather than pay the loan fee or salary. After a difficult few weeks, Dortmund needs a player like this to make an impression. They want Sancho, and he wants to return as well.Sancho wants to leave Manchester United in the coming days, not at the end of the January transfer window, as he stated clearly in his message. There are still discussions going on, and these are critical times. Keep happening so he can return to Borussia Dortmund.”