Karim Benzema’s no-salary offer and the hypocrisy of the Saudi Pro League

Former Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema is in a contract stand-off with Al-Ittihad after rejecting an extension proposal that removes a guaranteed salary and shifts his earnings towards image rights and commercial clauses.

The 38-year-old, whose current deal runs until the summer, has not featured for the club amid reports that he feels ‘disrespected’ with the structure of the offer, which would leave his income depending on off-field arrangements as opposed to a fixed pay.

The situation has raised questions in Saudi football, given that the league’s biggest signings have been on defined, high value salaries.

Old problems, blocked deals and unclear priorities

Concerns over payment structures are not new in the Saudi Pro League. FIFPRO has, in the past, documented cases of players taking clubs to tribunal over unpaid wages and sign-on fees, including Lewis Grabban’s successful claim against Al-Ahli after an alleged months of non-payment.

Those disputes, which led to registration bans and enforced settlements, remain part of the league’s recent record.

The Benzema situation has also fed into a wider dispute at league level after Cristiano Ronaldo formally raised objections to the proposed move from Al-Ittihad to Al-Hilal, a transfer that had already been discussed between the clubs and submitted to the Saudi Pro League for approval.

Reports say the Al-Nassr forward questioned the competitive balance of allowing Benzema join Al-Hilal, who are backed by the same Public Investment Fund structure. His intervention is said to have prompted the league to pause its final sign-off on the deal.

At the time of writing, that delay has had knock-on effects, with the likes of N’Golo Kanté still unable to complete a move from Al-Ittihad to Fenerbahçe, even though agreements were reached.

League approval for that transaction has not been granted, leaving contracts unsigned and registrations pending as the Benzema case remains unresolved.

Before all of these, the Saudi boom, the Chinese Super League had attracted stars like Oscar, Hulk and Jackson Martínez with large salaries aimed at raising the league’s profile.

Ronaldo’s move to Al-Nassr in 2022 on a reported $275 million deal, including commercial earnings, opened the door for high-profile moves such as Neymar to Al-Hilal for €90 million and Benzema himself to Al-Ittihad on a contract reportedly worth around US$108 million per year.

Even with those sums, the league continues to record financial irregularities. Contracts are sometimes terminated or restructured without sporting justification.

Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, for example, was offered a deal believed to exceed £500 million, while Real Madrid forwards Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo have been linked to potential moves that could make them among the world’s highest-paid footballers.

Others, including Bruno Fernandes and Ousmane Dembélé, were also reported targets, though neither deals were finalised. These developments show these signings are more about commercial or strategic considerations, than sporting needs. 

Analysts have rightly noted that only deals like Ronaldo’s make sense for the league in sporting terms, while other high-profile contracts are more about visibility, brand and global positioning.

That context makes Benzema’s treatment harder to justify, as the France international  can still play at the highest level, and is considering a return to the national team ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Huge salaries are not enough

The spending on marquee players has not removed questions about how value is assigned in the Saudi Pro League, and Karim Benzema’s position has brought those questions back. 

Reports that Mohamed Salah turned down the offer described as worth around £500 million is one of the facts that prove that even the largest salaries do not guarantee agreement.

The Liverpool forward chose Europe, where he continues to compete in domestic league play and European competition.

Manchester United captain, Bruno Fernandes, also declined the Saudi interest to continue playing at what he described as “the highest level”, a position echoed by Tottenham Hotspur legend Son Heung Min, who rejected proposed moves.

In both situations, the response came with reference to competition level rather than contract size, despite the amounts involved.

Midfield maestro Kevin De Bruyne also spoke about the financial side of Saudi offers. He was once quoted as saying that if he played there for two years, he would earn an “incredible amount.” But the comment of the former Manchester City midfielder, who now ply his trade with Napoli in Italy, also reflected a wider point. While there is no doubt about the pay, long-term appeal depends on how players are treated, how contracts are structured, and whether football remains the priority.

For many professionals, the game is not only about money, and leagues that recognise that are more likely to attract and retain top talent.