OL reopens a door that supporters have never really closed. On the set of France 2, in the show « Quelle Époque ! », Aulas sent a clear message to Benzema: « When are you coming back? ». The timing is no coincidence: the player trained at Olympique Lyonnais is reaching the end of his contract in June 2026 with Al-Ittihad, while the sporting director of the Saudi club, Ramon Planes, confirms his intention to extend it. Between the call of the heart and the realities of the transfer, the battle promises to be strategic. In Lyon, the dream of a return is part of a recent history marked by the comebacks of Lacazette and Tolisso. In Jeddah, the will is clear: to keep a 2022 Ballon d’Or who has become a leader again. The stage is set, the place and date as well, and the stake goes beyond football: Aulas, now a candidate for the mayor of Lyon, carries a message with a double meaning, both sporting and symbolic. One burning question remains: can OL, in this tight and demanding Ligue 1, orchestrate the winter coup or prepare the big stage of summer? The file opens with a bang, and each camp is already sharpening its arguments.
OL: Aulas opens the door to Benzema for a return — a strong signal mid-transfer window
The main fact is clear: Aulas publicly invited Karim Benzema to return to Olympique Lyonnais, Saturday night on France 2. The message comes as OL looks for landmarks and the winter window could start discussions.
The context sheds light on the intention. Since his departure in 2009, the Bron native has won everything with Real Madrid before joining Al-Ittihad in 2023. On air, Aulas combined emotion and strategy, also paying tribute to Bernard Lacombe and taking a jab at the former management, since replaced by Michele Kang. The signal is political and sporting at the same time.
At its core, OL sends a flashback to its glorious past to rekindle the future. The start of a story is not enough, but it sets a dynamic in motion.
Karim Benzema, OL’s child and 2022 Ballon d’Or: history and status
Trained at Tola Vologe, Benzema left Lyon in summer 2009 for Real Madrid, where he stacked titles and gala evenings. In 2023, he chose Al-Ittihad and took a few months to gain the upper hand before assuming a leadership role.
His experience, his 97 caps with France, and his 2022 Ballon d’Or strengthen his aura. At 38 years old in 2026, he remains a finisher-creator capable of guiding a dressing room. The OL DNA, however, does not fade.
This trajectory builds a credible bridge toward a thought-out return, not just dreamed.
Transfer or extension? The OL–Al-Ittihad duel around Benzema
The showdown is already taking shape. On the Saudi side, sporting director Ramon Planes repeats that Benzema wants to continue « in a serious project with good players ». On the Lyon side, Aulas’s opening plants a marker to gauge feasibility, today or at contract end.
Sportingly, Al-Ittihad offers playing time, status, and measured competition. In Lyon, the challenge would be tougher, but the Ligue 1 stage and the symbolic weight of the club can rebalance the scale. The equation mixes ambition, finances, and timing.
The lines will move if a clear framework emerges between winter and summer. The negotiation resembles a chess duel.
To measure the signals, here are the parameters that will weigh most in the player and both camps’ decision.
- Sporting status: role of starter and creative freedom at the heart of the project.
- Contractual framework: duration, salary, bonuses, and clauses.
- Schedule: arrival in January with fee, or free signing in summer.
- Collective ambition: European prospects and trajectory of Olympique Lyonnais.
- Affective dimension: return home, family, connection with the city.
If these sliders align, the Lyon hypothesis will gain consistency.
What this return would change for OL in Ligue 1
On the field, Benzema would offer a profile of a false nine facilitator. His ability to drop off would connect the midfield and Lacazette, while opening lanes for the wingers. In a 4-3-3, he would ease the first build-up and fix the center-backs.
In the dressing room, leadership and training standards would rise a notch. Beyond that, ticketing and derivative revenues would benefit from an immediate halo effect. OL would gain a weapon for the battle of maintaining high level and regaining the upper table.
With him, the game plan expands and the training DNA finds a guide.
Aulas between politics and football: a message with double meaning
The candidate for mayor of Lyon also evoked the memory of Bernard Lacombe, recalling the heritage of the club’s builders. In the same breath, he revived the idea of a return of Benzema, as a banner that goes beyond the green rectangle.
This signal accompanies an internal reshuffle after the John Textor period, replaced by Michele Kang. The story is clear: gather the OL family and put sport back at the center. The message touches hearts and resets priorities.
In the end, OL polishes its image while keeping an eye on the concrete.
Winning returns and home-grown DNA: Lacazette, Tolisso, the example to follow
In recent seasons, the club has seen Alexandre Lacazette and Corentin Tolisso come back. Their impact was immediate on cohesion, work culture, and project credibility. The youngsters found landmarks, the stands a story.
In this vein, Benzema would embody the ultimate link between the triumphant past and present ambition. Supporters already project themselves there, from Décines to the slopes of Croix-Rousse, like Yanis, 12, who replays his goals in the family living room. The symbol remains powerful.
Such a precedent strengthens the coherence of a possible comeback.
Archive images remind us of an obvious fact: the chemistry between the striker and his stadium has never faded. The thrill fuels the wait, without clouding the analysis.
Schedule and scenarios: how the operation could unfold
The winter window opens the way for a paid transfer if Al-Ittihad agrees. Otherwise, the most natural path leads to summer, with a free signing at the end of the contract running until June 2026. Meanwhile, the Saudis will try to lock in an extension.
Administratively, OL will have to secure contractual agreement, medical examination, and LFP approval within imposed deadlines. Sportingly, the staff will have to calibrate workload and integration into the starting eleven. The tempo will dictate success.
Here is a synthetic benchmark to follow the file week by week.
| Scenario | Window | Conditions | Obstacles | Feasibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter transfer | January | Agreement Al-Ittihad + fee | Cost, timing, quick adaptation | Medium |
| Free signing | Summer | End of contract on June 30, 2026 | Competition, salary, project | High |
| Extension in Arabia | Before summer | Strengthened offer from Al-Ittihad | OL appeal, family connection | Real |
Whatever the path, the outcome will be played on the edge between heart and reason.
The statement that rekindles fervor
In a few words, Aulas has lit the fuse. OL reactivates a collective memory and fuels a present ambition. It’s not just a memory; it’s a perspective.
For now, Al-Ittihad holds the hand and the negotiation promises to be a tight battle. But OL has laid the first marker. The ball is now in Benzema’s court.
Between sporting reason and emotion, the story is written day by day.
What exactly did Jean-Michel Aulas say about Karim Benzema ?
Invited on France 2, Aulas sent a direct message to Benzema : « When are you coming back? ». He thus opened the door to the striker’s return to OL during the transfer window.
What is Benzema’s contractual situation ?
Karim Benzema’s contract with Al-Ittihad runs until June 2026. The Saudi club wants to extend it, but a free signing next summer remains possible if no extension occurs.
What are the positions of the two clubs ?
Al-Ittihad wants to keep its leader and prepare an extension. OL, on its side, shows public interest and is ready to study the operation if sporting and financial conditions align.
What would be the sporting impact of a return to OL ?
Benzema would bring creativity, leadership, and efficiency, while complementing Lacazette. He would strengthen the game plan in Ligue 1 and embody a strong landmark for the club’s young players.
In what timing could a transfer materialize ?
There are two main windows : a paid transfer in January if Al-Ittihad agrees, or a free signing in summer 2026. An extension in Saudi Arabia remains a credible option.