Karim Benzema, the legendary striker from Real Madrid, has reportedly agreed to join Saudi Arabian club Al Ittihad at the end of the 2022-2023 season.
An unnamed Saudi Arabian club had previously offered Karim Benzema a two-year transfer deal worth €400 million, according to Naija News. That unnamed club happens to be Al Ittihad, the newly crowned Saudi Pro League champions.
In our initial report, we stated that Benzema, who has until June 30, 2024, before his Real Madrid contract expires, had informed the Spanish giants that he had received a lucrative offer from a Saudi club.
He hadn’t decided whether to pursue the deal or finish the remaining year of his contract with Madrid. And the Spanish club is prepared to back the legendary 35-year-old French striker in whatever he decides to do this summer.
However, on Thursday, June 1, ESPN’s Julien Laurens confirmed that Karim Benzema has agreed to move to Saudi Arabia to play for Al Ittihad for two years, a deal that would pay him €400 million in just two seasons.
This means that Real Madrid’s final La Liga game of the season, against Athletic Club on Sunday at 5:30 PM WAT, will be Karim Benzema’s final league game in the club’s colors.
The retired France international scored 353 goals during his 14-year career at Real Madrid. He is leaving the club as the club’s second-highest all-time goalscorer, trailing only Cristiano Ronaldo, who had 450 before leaving for Juventus in 2018.
Karim Benzema, one of the most decorated players in Madrid history, has helped the club win 25 major titles, including four LaLiga titles, five Champions Leagues, three Copa del Reys, three Spanish Supercopas, four UEFA Super Cups, and five FIFA Club World Cups.
His performances at the club have earned him the UEFA Player of the Year award in 2021 and the Ballon d’Or award in 2022.
The Frenchman, who missed the 2022 FIFA World Cup due to fitness issues, scored 18 goals in 23 La Liga matches during the 2022-2023 season. He only scored four goals in the Champions League before Manchester City knocked Real Madrid out in the semi-finals stage before Manchester City knocked Real Madrid out in the quarter-finals stage.