Karim Benzema, one of the greatest strikers in the history of the sport, officially an Al-Ittihad player. After 14 seasons, 25 trophies and five Champions League titles with Real Madrid, he is leaving to practice his profession in Saudi Arabia. The departure of the 35-year-old striker was officially announced by the club on Sunday and he officially joined Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad on Tuesday.
The Saudi club unveiled the striker to much fanfare, but the Pro League doesn’t stop there. According to James Benge, the league is making offers to Ilkay Gundogan and N’Golo Kante, as well of course intensifying the pursuit of Lionel Messi.
This is what Real Madrid said during their official farewell to their star striker:
Real Madrid Football Club and our captain Karim Benzema have agreed to end his brilliant and unforgettable time as a player at our club.
Real Madrid would like to show our gratitude and affection to a player who is already one of our greatest legends.
Karim Benzema joined our club in 2009, aged just 21, and has been a fundamental player in this golden age of our history. During the fourteen seasons in which he has represented our crest and shirt, he has won 25 titles, a record for any Real Madrid player: 5 European Cups, 5 Club World Cups, 4 European Super Cups, 4 Leagues, 3 King’s Cups and 4 Spanish Super Cups.
Karim Benzema is the current UEFA Ballon d’Or and UEFA Player of the Year, has been included in the FIFA FIFPRO XI and won the 2022 Pichichi Trophy. Champions League, in which our captain played some memorable matches that helped Real Madrid win their 14th European Cup in Paris and were the competition’s top scorer with 15 goals.
Karim Benzema is the fifth player to have worn our shirt most times with 647 appearances, and is Real Madrid’s second all-time top goalscorer with 353 goals. He is also Real Madrid’s second all-time top goalscorer in both La Liga and the European Cup. He is also the fourth top scorer in Champions League history and the fourth top scorer in La Liga history.
CBS Sports football reporter James Benge revealed the initial interest of Saudi Arabia in April and reported on Wednesday that Al-Ittihad believed them were about to land the former Lyon man.
The second-highest goalscorer in Real Madrid’s history behind him Cristiano Ronaldowho also plays in Saudi Arabia, Benzema claimed the 2022 Ballon d’Or after winning his fifth UCL crown with Los Blancos.
There was the belief that he would stay for one more season until the summer of 2024, but now he is leaving for an increasingly popular destination in the Middle East, which is also courting Lionel MessiKante and other world stars.