It’s been a quiet January transfer window for Saudi clubs after a blockbuster summer in 2023. However, it looks like it has to offer some action at the end. According to reports, Al Ittihad’s coach, Marcello Gallardo, has recently dropped two players from the team’s list. The news comes after a few days of restlessness in the camp due to Karim Benzema‘s absence after he threatened to leave the club.

Nevertheless, the soccer veteran has decided to stay back. The move comes as a relief for the Roshn Saudi League, which has felt a hiccup since Jordan Henderson left Al Ettifaq, expressing displeasure. However, it looks like Al Ittihad is not going to take any such risk.

Al Ittihad reportedly marks the exit of backup striker and goalie after diffusing the Karim Benzema situation

The Roshn Saudi League champions have been in a state of constant change for the last few months. After sacking Nuno Santos in November 2023 they’ve now reportedly dropped striker Romarinho and goalkeeper Marcelo Grohe from the team. This news arrived just an hour before the market closed.

The club has gotten into turmoil this season after grabbing the title from Al Nassr with a phenomenal showcase last season. However, this time they lost their grip from RSL’s 8th gameweek onwards. They are currently placed 7th, way below the leader, Al Hilal, with a 25-point deficit. However, in a surprising twist, Al Ittihad dropped two key players from their lineup, and its reason and duration remain shrouded in mystery. Romarinho and Grohe were at the crux of Al Ittihad’s title-running squad last year.

Romarinho, along with Abderrazak Hamdallah, spearheaded the attack and scored 13 goals in the league last season. But he scored just four this year, playing second fiddle to Karim Benzema and Hamdallah.

Grohe, on the other hand, had a spellbinding 19 clean sheets last season and six this year. However, Benzema’s arrival could have prompted a different approach. After losing 2-5 to Al Nassr, Benzema left the club’s camp to threaten to leave them if not for the squad’s consolidation.

READ MORE – Al Ahli Coach Blocks Karim Benzema Transfer From Al Ittihad Citing 2 Major Challenges

Nevertheless, after missing out on a few weeks of training, he returned to the club after bashing the talks of him moving to Lyon, saying, “It’s completely false! The French media don’t know what to invent any more. The bigger, the better.” Al Ittihad also seemed to be working on it after reports showed that they were about to exchange players with Steven Gerrard’s Al Ettifaq.

But it looks like the club, in pursuit of regaining glory, has managed to convince Karim Benzema and structure the squad around him.

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