Spanish giants Real Madrid have officially confirmed that Karim Benzema will make his departure from the club after an incredible 14-year-long journey.
The Los Blancos confirmed that Benzema will leave at the end of the season as a free agent with the expiration of his contract. Initially, a one-year extension seemed to have been agreed upon between the club and the player. However, that doesn’t seem to be the case anymore.
Real Madrid say goodbye to Karim Benzema 🤍 pic.twitter.com/JRciWRBstH
— GOAL (@goal) June 4, 2023
Real Madrid’s official statement reads: “Real Madrid Football Club and our captain Karim Benzema have agreed to bring his brilliant and unforgettable time as a player at our club to a close. Real Madrid would like to show our gratitude and affection to a player who is already one of our greatest legends.”
“Karim Benzema’s career at Real Madrid has been a shining example of conduct and professionalism, and he has represented the values of our club. Karim Benzema has earned the right to decide his future. Madridistas and all the fans all over the world alike have enjoyed his magical and unique football, which has made him one of the great icons of our club and one of the great legends of world football.”
The club has officially announced that a farewell ceremony will be held on Tuesday, with President Florentino Perez expected to attend.
How good was Karim Benzema for Real Madrid?
Karim Benzema has been one of Real Madrid’s best players ever since he joined the club from Olympique Lyon for €35 million. In his initial years, he remained in the shadow of five times Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo. It was with CR7’s departure from Santiago Bernabeu that Benzema truly flourished.
This Karim Benzema UCL campaign will forever live in our hearts.
He stepped up when everything seemed lost. pic.twitter.com/YVlRkDfoPG
— TC (@totalcristiano) June 4, 2023
During his 14-year-long journey with Los Blancos, the 35-year-old French striker has made 648 appearances for the club, scoring 354 goals and assisting 165 times. Along the way, Benzema won 4 La Liga titles, 5 Champions Leagues, 5 Copa Del Rey titles, and 5 FIFA Club World Cups. His sublime performances in the 2021-22 season, where Real Madrid won the treble, earned him the Ballon d’Or.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-3volI_9Ak&ab_channel=NinoProductions
Benzema also holds the record for the club’s second-highest goalscorer, trailing Cristiano Ronaldo, who has 450 goals for Real Madrid.
Which Saudi club has offered a €400 million deal?
According to reports, Karim Benzema has been offered a gigantic deal worth €400 million from the Saudi Pro League club, where his former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo is currently playing. The club in question seems to be Al-Ittihad, who have also offered Lionel Messi a humongous deal that will make him the highest-paid sportsman ever.
As of now, it is not clear whether Karim Benzema has agreed upon a deal to join the Saudi League, but we expect to be getting more news on his future destination soon.
