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7 months ago
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Karim Benzema's brother has taken aim at the forward's manager after Al-Ittihad's loss to Al-Hilal in the Saudi Super Cup final.
Having won the Saudi Pro League last season, Benzema's side have struggled this term, sitting fourth in the league and losing 4-1 in the Super Cup on Thursday.
Benzema has scored 13 goals in 28 games, however, with nine in 20 coming in league action after joining the division on the back of 14 years and five Champions League titles with Real Madrid.
There have been reports of unrest with Benzema regarding his move to the Middle East, though he has continued to play for his new side despite failing to reach the levels of performance he showed in Spain.
Now the saga has taken its latest turn, with the Frenchman's brother, Gressy Benzema, slating manager Marcelo Gallardo on social media.
Karim Benzema's feud with his manager could be set to be reignited following the Saudi Super Cup final
The forward had previously denied reports of a rift with his boss, Marcelo Gallardo (pictured)
Benzema's brother, however, took to social media to slam the Argentina for playing Benzema out wide in the game
'Karim Benzema, do you play on the left now?' the 31-year-old posted. 'It's a crime!!! Has no sense. Football must be respected. #NueveNineNeuf9'
Benzema was seen leaving the field in frustration after the defeat, having spent much of the game in a wide forward position to accommodate goal scorer Abderrazak Hamdallah.
The former Ballon d'Or winner, who has signed a three-year contract with the Jeddah-based club, insisted in February that he has no issues with Gallardo despite recent reports of a rift with the Argentine.
Benzema was said to have been excluded from first XI training after returning from his holiday 17 days late in January, with a source saying his club couldn't even establish contact with him for 10 days as he holidayed in Mauritius.
Reports suggested he was stuck in the African country due to a cyclone, though the incident meant that Benzema did not travel with his team-mates to their mid-season training camp taking place in Dubai.
'I am back and now I am better. The story of my departure is not true and I am happy in Saudi Arabia,' the 36-year-old said after returning to his club, having been dropped for their Saudi Pro League game against Al-Tai and failing to make the squad for squad for their Asian Champions League trip to Navbahor Namangan in Uzbekistan..
'I have no problems with [Marcelo] Gallardo, all those who say I want to return to Europe are liars. I am very happy at Al-Ittihad.'
He finished by saying: 'For my part, I have no problem with anyone. Ask the coach about my absence, I was ready for the internship in Dubai.'
Gressy Benzema (L), a former footballer himself, has been by his brother's side throughout his career
Benzema was said to have been excluded from first XI training after returning from his holiday 17 days late in January
Reports had suggested he was unsettled in Saudi Arabia, having moved to the country after 14 years at Real Madrid
A new rift could be brewing, however, with Gressy, who had a short career in France before retiring as a teenager, expressing his own frustration with his brother's situation.
Al-Hilal had taken the lead in the game through Malcom, before Hamdallah equalised with 21 minutes on the clock.
Salem Aldawsari put the eventual champions back ahead just before the break, and Malcom and Nasser Aldawsari put the finishing touches on the game with late strikes to ensure victory.
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