Benzema leaves Real Madrid after 14 years at club

Karim Benzema, the winner of the Ballon d’Or, will depart Real Madrid as a free agent in the offseason after 14 trophy-filled seasons, the LaLiga club announced on Sunday. The striker is expected to join Saudi Arabian team Al Ittihad.

Al Ittihad and Benzema have agreed to terms on a two-year contract, according to the state-run Al Ekhbariya television station in Saudi Arabia. Club executives in Madrid reportedly negotiated a “record deal” with the striker.

After a 2022–23 season during which he struggled with ailments and was forced to miss France’s World Cup campaign in Qatar due to yet another injury, the 35-year-old Frenchman had appeared ready to continue at the Spanish club for one more year.

But he apparently changed his mind after receiving a Saudi Arabian offer said to be worth more than 100 million euros ($107.05 million), according to the media.

Real claimed that the Frenchman had “earned the right to decide his future” and hence decided to nullify the one-year contract extension clause.

Karim Benzema has “agreed to bring his brilliant and unforgettable time as a player at our club to a close,” according to a statement from Real Madrid.

“Karim Benzema has exemplified our club’s values throughout his Real Madrid career, and his career has been a shining example of conduct and professionalism.”

Following Cristiano Ronaldo’s December signing of a 2-1/2 year deal with Al Nassr thought to be worth more than 200 million euros, Benzema could join his former Real teammate in the Gulf nation.