In one of the most bizarre fan-player interactions ever, a supporter was seen assaulting Al-Ittihad forward Abderrazak Hamdallah after their 4-1 loss to Al-Hilal in the Saudi Super Cup title in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.

French forward Karim Benzema has returned to Saudi Arabia 17 days after he was supposed to check back in with his club Al-Ittihad, a source close to the club told AFP on Friday.

Brazilian Romarinho, N'Golo Kante and Benzema scored in the first half to book their team's place in the second round.

Karim Benzema was lured by Saudi Arabia's "huge project" and the fact it is a Muslim country when he decided to end a trophy-laden stint with Real Madrid to move to Al-Ittihad, the French striker said on Wednesday.

"Don't believe in fake news. Kante is an Ittihad player now," the club posted in a video message on Twitter

Fireworks and flame-throwers greeted Benzema, wearing their black and yellow kit with the number nine, at Al-Ittihad's 60,000-seater stadium in Jeddah, where a giant 'KB9' was emblazoned on the pitch in bright lights.

The France striker and Ballon d'Or winner signed a three-season contract with the Saudi Pro League club on Tuesday for a total of $165 million, according to local media

World Cup-winning French midfielder N'Golo Kante has signed a three-year deal with Saudi Arabia's Al-Ittihad, a club source told AFP on Wednesday, a day after Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema also joined the team.

Karim Benzema said leaving Real Madrid "hurts" at a goodbye ceremony Tuesday ahead of his move to Saudi Arabia's Al-Ittihad.