Karim Benzema has made the decision to join Al Ittihad in Saudi Arabia once his contract with Real Madrid expires this month, according to ESPN.
According to an earlier report, Benzema was given a two-year agreement for €400m to relocate to Saudi Arabia in January. Cristiano Ronaldo had a similar offer when he joined Al Nassr after leaving Manchester United.
The 35-year-old center forward has played for 14 seasons at the Bernabeu, where he has scored second-most goals for the team, won five Champions Leagues, four LaLiga championships, and the 2022 Ballon d’Or.
Benzema had been expected to stay at Madrid for one more season until June 2024, but has opted instead to accept a new challenge.
Madrid are in advanced talks to sign Joselu on loan to replace Mariano Diaz but they will look for someone else to bolster the attack.
Madrid’s club captain has had an injury-hit season — missing the 2022 World Cup in Qatar with a hamstring problem — but still scored 18 goals in 23 LaLiga appearances, as well as four goals in the Champions League knockout stage.
Karim Benzema will join Saudi Arabian side Al Ittihad when his Real Madrid contract expires this month, sources have told ESPN.
Benzema was offered a two-year contract worth €400 million to move to Saudi Arabia in January. pic.twitter.com/dXwoNByCI0
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 1, 2023
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Benzema joined Madrid from Lyon in 2009 as one of Europe’s most highly rated young forwards.
He initially had to compete with Gonzalo Higuain for a place in the side, before becoming a part of Madrid’s iconic “BBC” forward line alongside Gareth Bale and Ronaldo.
Benzema evolved into the team’s main goal threat with the departure of Ronaldo in 2018.
He had a career-best season in 2021-22, top scoring in LaLiga with 27 goals and scoring another 15 in the Champions League, form which won him the Ballon d’Or in October 2022.
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