Al-Hilal's Future Without Karim Benzema: The Exit Plan

Al-Hilal are already sketching out a future without Karim Benzema – but they cannot move until their biggest star signs off on the end of his own story.

Benzema exit plan collides with contract reality

Coach Inzaghi has made his choice. He wants Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins as the new spearhead of Al-Hilal’s attack next season, with the club looking to refresh an ageing squad and sharpen their edge in the Saudi Pro League.

According to MaxiFoot, the Saudi side are ready to part ways with the 38-year-old Frenchman this summer as part of that overhaul. The problem sits in the small print.

Benzema, winner of the 2022 Ballon d’Or, is demanding full payment of the final year of his contract before he will agree to a mutual termination. Until that is resolved, everything else is on hold. Talks between the player and the club are effectively frozen, leaving Al-Hilal’s transfer plans stuck in neutral.

Flashpoint in a 4-2 win

The tension spilled into public view during Al-Hilal’s 4-2 victory over Al Faisaly on Friday night. Benzema scored, but the goal did not soften the blow when his number went up.

With 20 minutes to play, Inzaghi replaced him with youngster Kader Meite. Benzema’s frustration was obvious as he left the pitch, a rare crack in the usually composed veteran’s demeanour.

Inzaghi moved quickly to cool things down in front of the cameras.

"We talked about that after the match," he said. "It's normal that he wants to play every match, and I understand him because I was a striker too. At that moment, we had another young player available, Kader Meite, who represents the future of the club. I was joking with Karim after the match, and I have a respectful relationship with him. He is not only a great champion, but also a very great professional."

The words were calm, conciliatory. The wider picture is not.

Foreign quota and a younger core

Behind the scenes, club management remain set on terminating Benzema’s deal, the same report states. This is not just about form or friction; it is about rules and direction.

The Saudi Pro League’s strict foreign player quota leaves Al-Hilal with hard choices. To bring in a new overseas striker, one established name must go. The hierarchy also want to drive down the average age of the squad ahead of next season, and Benzema sits squarely in the firing line of that policy.

Per AS, Inzaghi sees Watkins as the ideal replacement. At 30, the England international offers a blend of experience and energy, and he arrives with serious numbers: 21 goals in 55 appearances for Aston Villa in the 2025-26 campaign. For a club chasing a new attacking focal point, that output is hard to ignore.

Watkins on hold

Everything now turns on one negotiation: Benzema’s exit package.

Until the Frenchman agrees to a termination and frees up a foreign player slot, Al-Hilal cannot formalise any move for Watkins. Scouts can watch, calls can be made, but the deal cannot cross the line while Benzema is still on the books.

If he accepts the club’s proposal and walks away with his final year paid in full, Al-Hilal are expected to immediately accelerate their pursuit of the Aston Villa forward. The plan is drawn; only the trigger is missing.

For now, the former Real Madrid captain remains an Al-Hilal player, still scoring, still starting rows of headlines – and yet walking ever closer to the door. How long that uneasy balance holds may define not only his own farewell, but the shape of Al-Hilal’s attack for years to come.