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Benzema leaves Real Madrid after 14 years at club

Benzema leaves Real Madrid after 14 years at club

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.

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