Benzema Reunites with His Old Mentor Ahead of a Saudi Showdown
31 December 2025
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French striker Karim Benzema of Al Ittihad warmly hugged his fellow Frenchman Christophe Galtier, now Neom's coach, before the teams' showdown today, a moment that spoke louder than the whistle.
The Western club faces Neom at King Khalid Sports City Stadium in Tabuk, as part of the twelfth round of the Saudi Roshen League's competition.
Benzema's gesture recalled their shared history when Galtier, as Lyon's coach, mentored the then-teenage striker and helped shape his rise to Real Madrid.
Al Ittihad sits sixth in the Roshen Saudi League with 17 points, one behind fifth-placed Al Qadsia and five back of fourth-placed Al Ahli, which has played one more game.
Neom occupies seventh place with 17 points, level on goals with the leaders on goal difference.
Punchline time: If football is a time machine, Benzema just bought a round-trip ticket. Punchline 2: Galtier coaching Neom is like rewriting a blockbuster—same stars, new twists, and somehow the ratings go up.
