Former Tottenham Hotspur coach Nuno Espirito Santo has been fired by Al-Ittihad. This comes after allegations that he clashed with their star player Karim Benzema following a spate of Saudi Pro League defeats. There have been reports at the start of the season as well. Those reports said that there is a cold war brewing between Nuno Espirito and Karim Benzema. Now, it seems like it has reached breaking point and Nuno Espirito has been sacked.
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Nuno Espirito sacked because of Karim Benzema?
Al-Quwa Al-Juwiya pushed the Nuno Espirito’s team out of their AFC Champions League group. This comes after the team failed to win any of their final five league matches. Al-Ittihad have a number of talented players on their roster. This includes former Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante, ex-Celtic winger Jota, and former Liverpool star Fabinho.
Despite their star-studded lineup, Nuno Espirito has only managed two wins in their past nine games across all competitions. According to Revelo, tempers flared in the changing room following an ugly defeat to Al-Quwa Al-Juwiya, and Karim Benzema and Nuno reportedly traded words.
Al-Ittihad stated on Tuesday that they had parted ways with the Portuguese coach as a result of the upheaval and sustained poor play. Despite significant investment in players over the summer, Nuno Espirito oversaw only two wins in their previous nine games in all competitions.
According to Relevo, the decision was influenced by Nuno Espirito’s relationship with Karim Benzema. This relationship apparently reached “a point of no return,” with the demands of Al-Ittihad’s star signing plainly taking precedence over the former Tottenham and Wolves manager.
With no manager in place, the Saudi club may aim to hire a Frenchman to placate the 2022 Ballon d’Or winner, according to the source. From the list of suggestions, Laurent Blanc – who used to manage Lyon – is rumoured to be a replacement.
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Zinedine Zidane too is a name that has popped up while talking about replacements. While getting him would be a coup for the Saudi Pro League, it seems highly unlikely. Zidane hasn’t worked on any team post his Real Madrid stint. It is hard to see him resume his managerial career at Saudi.
Meanwhile, Steven Gerrard has said he’ll be looking for more players in Europe to move to the Saudi Pro League as the League tries to get their finances back on track. He took charge of Al-Ettifaq in July, but they’re currently sitting in seventh place in the league with just 21 points after 12 games.
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