According to reports, Al-Ittihad manager Nuno Espirito Santo has told the club that Karim Benzema does not fit into his plans.

The 2022 Ballon d’Or winner only joined the Saudi Pro League champions in June, signing a three-year contract following a glittering 14-year career with Real Madrid.

However, the Saudi tabloid Al-Sharq Al-Awsat claims that Benzema and his manager are at odds.

According to the report, Nuno told the Al-Ittihad hierarchy that the France international does not fit his style of play and that he has never requested a move.

The 35-year-old, who has won the Champions League five times, is also claimed to have requested the leadership, only for Nuno to decline and hand the armband to club great Romarinho.

As part of his transfer negotiations with Al-Ittihad, who won the Saudi Pro League title under Nuno last season, Benzema supposedly promised to be club captain.

After being “treated unprofessionally by his coach,” Benzema is apparently “not comfortable” working under the existing conditions at Al-Ittihad.

Such tensions could even result in the player’s surprise departure, only two months after joining the team.

Benzema is one of four players signed from European clubs this season, with the club also signing N’Golo Kante, Fabinho, and Jota this summer.

Al-Ittihad began the domestic season with back-to-back victories over Al-Raed and Al-Ta’ee, and they now lead the Saudi Pro League.

While Benzema has yet to score in either game, he did get an assist in the season opener.

Nuno’s team will play Al-Riyadh on Thursday before hosting Al-Wehda the following Monday.

Benzema scored 354 goals in 648 games with Real Madrid, winning four La Liga titles along the way.

In addition, he has 97 caps for France, scoring 37 times.