Hamdallah reveals his conflict with Benzema over the number 9!

Moroccan international Abderrazak Hamdallah, currently a striker for Saudi club Al-Shabab, opened up about a defining episode from his stint at Al-Ittihad during his appearance on the show “Koura,” broadcast on Rotana Khalijia. He notably discussed the behind-the-scenes details of his departure from the club and his dispute with Karim Benzema over the iconic number 9 jersey.

Hamdallah revealed that his previous experience with Al-Nassr had left him deeply affected, both psychologically and morally, prompting him to leave the Saudi Pro League for good. He flew to the United States before being contacted by his compatriot Karim El Ahmadi, who conveyed Al-Ittihad's interest in signing him.

When Hamdallah said no to Benzema… and to the club!

The 34-year-old Moroccan striker revisited the now-famous number 9 saga, explaining that he had categorically refused to give up the number to Karim Benzema, whom he did not consider superior to him in terms of technical ability.

“The Al-Ittihad management asked me to hand over the number 9 to Benzema, but I refused at first. I told them I would leave the club if they insisted,” he revealed.

He continued candidly: “All players in the world are on equal footing... except Messi. For him, you can give the 9, the 10, or even the 1, and put two captain's armbands on him if you want. The others? They have to wait their turn—even Cristiano Ronaldo is no exception.”

Ultimately, Hamdallah changed his mind after a conversation with the club's former president: “I ended up accepting at the request of Anmar Al-Haili, whom I greatly appreciate. I then opted for the number 99.”

Nevertheless, Hamdallah was keen to stress: “I respect Benzema, but I am a great player too. The number 9 was mine, and I had every right to keep it.”

It’s worth remembering that Abderrazak Hamdallah wore Al-Ittihad’s colors for two and a half seasons, scoring 67 goals and providing 8 assists in 84 official matches. He played a major role in the club’s Saudi league and Super Cup triumphs.

Read also: Saudi Pro League: Hamdallah outshines Benzema!

Mohamed Rek |

Editorfr, ar, en

Mohamed Rek- sports content writer with over 10 years of experience creating football content in Arabic and French for platforms such as Foot Africa and Starafrica, combining accuracy, creativity, and audience engagement.