Karim Benzema’s decision to make a swift move in the Saudi Pro League has reportedly not gone down well with Cristiano Ronaldo, with claims the Al Nassr captain is “furious” about how the situation has unfolded.
Benzema, who left Real Madrid last summer, has been heavily linked with a change of club in recent days after a difficult spell at Al Ittihad. Reports from the region say the France forward is set to join Al Ittihad’s rivals Al Hilal on a short-term deal, a switch that would immediately place him at one of the league’s most powerful sides and into direct competition with Ronaldo’s Al Nassr.
The sudden nature of the proposed move is said to be a major issue. Benzema has been unhappy with his circumstances at Al Ittihad, where results have been inconsistent and the atmosphere around the team has grown tense. He has missed training at points and there has been plenty of noise about his future, fueling speculation that the club was ready to let him go if the right solution appeared.
Now, with talk of Al Hilal stepping in, the story has taken another twist. Al Hilal are already among the strongest teams in the league and are also expected to represent Saudi Arabia on the global stage in upcoming international competitions. Adding a player of Benzema’s profile would be viewed as a statement signing and would shift attention toward a club that has consistently been able to attract elite names.
That backdrop is what has reportedly irritated Ronaldo. He remains the face of Al Nassr’s project and has pushed for the club to match the ambitions shown by their rivals. The suggestion that Benzema could move across the league and land at Al Hilal—rather than Al Nassr—has been framed as a development that has angered the Portuguese star, who is said to be frustrated by how power and influence are being used in the market.
It is also hard to ignore the history between the two. Benzema and Ronaldo were central figures during Real Madrid’s dominant years, winning major trophies together and forming one of Europe’s most feared attacks. Their reunion in the same league was already a major storyline. If Benzema ends up at Al Hilal instead, the rivalry angle would only intensify, with the pair now representing opposing title contenders.
For Al Ittihad, the priority is stabilizing a season that has drifted off course. Benzema was brought in to lead a new era, but his time in Jeddah has not developed as planned. Injuries, form issues and tension around the squad have all contributed to a rocky campaign, and the club is believed to be open to a solution that removes a growing distraction.
Al Nassr, meanwhile, continue to chase silverware with Ronaldo at the center of everything. Any move that strengthens a rival, particularly one as well-resourced as Al Hilal, is likely to be viewed with concern inside Ronaldo’s camp—especially if it highlights gaps in Al Nassr’s own recruitment plans.
At this stage, there has been no official confirmation of an agreement, but the pace of the reports has made it one of the biggest transfer stories in Saudi Arabia this window. If Benzema completes the switch, it would be one of the most dramatic moves the league has seen, and it would add another layer to the growing competition between the country’s top clubs.
