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BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández is keeping his cards close to his chest before the first “clasico” of the season. They all returned to training Friday, a day before Madrid arrives with a one-point lead in the Spanish league standings. “I will play my best players, those that are 100% ready,” the Barcelona coach said. Political Cartoons View All 1223 ImagesMadrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said he wasn't worried who played for Barcelona as long as Jude Bellingham was ready to go. Regardless of who plays for the host team, Xavi has a huge task in finding a way to stop Bellingham and Vinícius Júnior.

Persons: Xavi Hernández, Robert Lewandowksi, de Jong, Pedri González, Jules Koundé, “, Ferran Torres, Carlo Ancelotti, wasn't, Jude Bellingham, Bellingham, Ancelotti, Xavi, Vinícius, ” Xavi, Ronald Araújo, De Jong, Oriol Romeu, Gavi Paéz, “ Oriol, ” Bellingham, Karim Benzema’s, Toni Kroos, Federico Valverde, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Luka Modric, Eduardo Camavinga, “ Camavinga, Mendy, ” Ancelotti, Yamal, Fermín López Organizations: —, Madrid, Barcelona, Braga, Champions League, Bellingham, Manchester, Xavi’s, La Masia, Shakhtar Donetsk Locations: BARCELONA, Spain, — Barcelona, Barcelona, Lewandowski, Poland, Bellingham, Manchester City, Madrid, Saudi Arabia

☆ Karim Benzema: French Interior Minister makes baseless claim about soccer star
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Ben Morse | Claudia Colliva | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Speaking to French outlet CNews on Monday, French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin accused Benzema of having connections to the Muslim Brotherhood, a religious and political group which France considers a terrorist organization. And in recent weeks, I’ve been particularly interested, Mr. Benzema is linked, we all know it, notoriously with the Muslim Brotherhood. The Muslim Brotherhood is a religious and political group founded on the belief that Islam is not simply a religion, but a way of life. The Muslim Brotherhood officially rejects the use of violent means to secure its goals. There is no evidence that the Muslim Brotherhood has any connection to Hamas’ attack on Israel.

Persons: CNN —, Ballon, Karim Benzema, Gérald Darmanin, Benzema, Darmanin, I’ve, ’, Gilles Kepel, ”, Sarah Meyssonnier, ” Benzema, “, Benzema’s Organizations: CNN, French, Muslim, French Interior Ministry, UEFA Champions League, Real Madrid, Saudi Pro League, Al, France’s men’s, Palestinian Health Ministry, Reuters, Twitter, Muslim Brotherhood Locations: Israel, France, Ittihad, Gaza, Paris, Palestinian

☆ Saudi soccer clubs to play in Iran for the first time in seven years
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Mostafa Salem | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Iranian and Saudi soccer clubs will be facing off on a home-and-away basis for the first time since 2016, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said in a statement Monday. Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr is set to play Iranian giant Persepolis FC in Tehran on September 19. Riyadh severed ties with Tehran in 2016 after Iranian protesters stormed the Saudi embassy in the Iranian capital following the execution of a Shi’ite cleric in Saudi Arabia. But both countries agreed to reestablish diplomatic ties in March after seven years of hostility, in a landmark deal mediated by China. Saudi Arabia has been investing heavily in sport in recent times, with teams in the Saudi Pro League – the professional men’s league in the country – signing a slew of global stars.

Persons: Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Ronaldo’s, Benzema’s Al, Neymar’s Al, Hilal, It’s Organizations: CNN, Asian Football Confederation, AFC, Asian Champions League, Persepolis FC, Sepahan SC, football, Saudi Arabian Football Federation, Football Federation Islamic, Saudi, Saudi Pro League Locations: Saudi, Iran, Tehran, Ittihad, Isfahan, Mazandaran, Saudi Arabia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Asia, Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran, Riyadh, China

☆ The Players Are the Trophies Now
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Rory Smith | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Two things stood out about Karim Benzema’s arrival in Jeddah on Wednesday evening. From the second his private jet touched down at King Abdulaziz International Airport to the moment — an unspecified but apparently inordinate time later — that he finally made it out into the Saudi Arabian night, Benzema looked distinctly baffled. His smile did not waver, but nor did the slight hint of confusion in his eyes. Throughout, Benzema had the countenance of a man who had been recently startled. More striking still, though, was that every single step of his journey was being documented.

Persons: Karim Benzema’s, Benzema, Al, videographers, — Organizations: King Abdulaziz International Airport, Saudi Premier League Locations: Jeddah, Saudi, Ittihad, Al

☆ Karim Benzema signs for Saudi team Al-Ittihad after leaving Real Madrid
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Matt Foster | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —French striker Karim Benzema has signed with Saudi Arabian team Al-Ittihad on an initial three-year deal, the club announced on Tuesday. Al-Ittihad won the Saudi Pro League (SPL) this season under the stewardship of one-time Tottenham Hotspur manager Nuno Espirito Santo and offered Benzema a deal reportedly worth more than $100 million. It now feels the time is right for a new challenge and project.”Reuniting with RonaldoBenzema also expressed joy at joining a league which already contains his former Real Madrid teammate Cristiano Ronaldo. Karim is a global football icon, he’s box office and very much at the top of his powers.”Benzema joined Real Madrid from Lyon in 2009, aged 21. He won 25 trophies with the club, making 648 appearances and scoring 354 goals – the second most in its history.

Persons: Karim Benzema, Benzema, Nuno Espirito, ” Benzema, “, Ronaldo Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo, “ Cristiano Ronaldo, ”, Anmar Bin Abdullah Alhailael, Ballon, Karim Organizations: CNN, Saudi Arabian, Real Madrid, Sunday, Ittihad, Saudi Pro League, Tottenham Hotspur, Nuno Espirito Santo, ”, SPL, Saudi, Ittihad Club Locations: Ittihad, Al, Asia, Spain, Europe, Saudi Arabia, Real, Lyon

Karim Benzema, one of soccer’s best players and a fixture at the Spanish giant Real Madrid for more than a decade, has agreed to join the Saudi champion Al-Ittihad on a three-year contract that will make him the latest prize acquisition for a kingdom rapidly expanding its ambitions and influence in sports. The decision by Benzema, a 35-year-old French striker, to move to Saudi Arabia was confirmed by Al-Ittihad on Tuesday after days of rumors. Benzema’s arrival will come only months after a different Saudi club lured another star, the Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo, with one of the richest contracts in soccer history. Among the other marquee players said to have been targeted by the Saudi league is Lionel Messi, who led Argentina to the World Cup title in December in Qatar. The salaries offered to the players are some of the largest in sports history, according to interviews with agents, Saudi sports officials and consultants hired to execute the project.

Persons: Karim Benzema, Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi Organizations: Al, Saudi, Investment Fund Locations: Real Madrid, Saudi, Ittihad, Saudi Arabia, Portuguese, Argentina, Qatar

☆ Is Karim Benzema about to be the first of many soccer superstars to join Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia?
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —French soccer player Karim Benzema has played his last game for Real Madrid and may soon be joining the great Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia. Saudi’s state-run Ekhbariya news on Sunday reported that Benzema and the Saudi Al Ittihad club had reached an agreement on a two-season contract. The Frenchman could be the first of many established star names to join Ronaldo in the Saudi Pro League next season. In an interview with the Saudi Pro League, Ronaldo last week said that he was happy in Saudi Arabia and encouraged other players to join him. According to Saudi state-owned media, Ronaldo will earn an estimated $200 million a year, making him the world’s highest-paid soccer player.

Persons: Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema, Fabrizio Romano, “, Al, ”, ” Romano, Ballon, Carlo Ancelotti, ” Benzema, Frenchman, Ronaldo, Al Nassr, Lionel Messi –, –, Karim Djaziri Organizations: CNN, Real Madrid, Saudi Al, Sunday, Twitter, Saudi, Spanish, Ronaldo, Saudi Pro League Locations: French, Saudi Arabia, Saudi, Saudi Al Ittihad, Italian, Al Ittihad, Spain, Al Hilal

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