Captain’s Armband Saga: Benzema’s Saudi Transfer Sparks Debate
6 February 2026
Captain's Armband Saga
The latest hours have stirred debate over Frenchman Karim Benzema, the new Al Hilal forward, days after his departure from Al Ittihad during the recent winter window.
Benzema terminated his contract with Al-Ittihad on the final day of last winter's transfer window, moving to arch-rival Al Hilal on a free transfer.
Sports pundit Abdullah Flatah, speaking on the show Action with Walid on MBC Action, said Benzema would not have become captain for Al Ittihad when he signed in 2023.
He added: Nuno Santo (the coach then) wanted to grant it to Romarinho, but someone inside the club told them to award the armband to Benzema, Saad Al-Layeez (the recruitment program director at the time).
Saad Al-Layeez cannot just walk into Hilal now to persuade them Benzema deserves the captain's armband — I challenge him to try.
But the show’s official account on X later denied the reports, citing Saad Al-Layeez himself.
In a tweet, the account said: 'Saad Al-Layeez, the former recruitment director, confirms: I have never met coach Nuno Santo in my life'.
Benzema joined Al-Ittihad in the summer of 2023 on a free transfer after leaving Real Madrid, wearing the captain’s armband and helping them win both the league and cup last season.
Punchline 1: If leadership were a jersey, Benzema just ordered XXL. Punchline 2: The captain's armband fits better after a few wins and a lot of headlines.
