Real Madrid’s star striker and Ballon d’Or winner, Karim Benzema, has officially signed a three-year contract with Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad, starting from the upcoming season. The announcement comes shortly after Real Madrid confirmed that the 35-year-old would be departing the club after an impressive 14 seasons. Surprisingly, this news follows Coach Carlo Ancelotti’s previous statement, where he expressed confidence in Benzema’s future at the Spanish capital.
A reliable source from Al-Ittihad revealed to AFP that “Benzema has signed a contract for his transfer to Al-Ittihad for a three-year period starting next season.” If this move is finalized, Benzema will reunite with his former Real Madrid teammate, Cristiano Ronaldo, who made a similar transition to Al Nassr from Manchester United after the previous World Cup.
Meanwhile, senior officials from another prominent Saudi Arabian club, Al Hilal, have traveled to France with the intention of securing a deal with Lionel Messi. The Argentinian superstar, who recently played his final match for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), has attracted interest from the Saudi club. Two sources familiar with the matter informed AFP that the Saudi delegation plans to meet Messi’s father and agent, Jorge, in their pursuit to complete the signing as swiftly as possible.
Karim Benzema, who joined Real Madrid in 2009 from Lyon, has made a remarkable impact during his tenure at the club. With 648 appearances for Los Blancos, he is currently second on Real Madrid’s all-time goalscoring list, with an impressive tally of 354 goals, only surpassed by Cristiano Ronaldo. The French striker has played a pivotal role in securing five Champions League titles, four La Liga titles, and three Copas del Rey during his illustrious career at Madrid.
Although Benzema experienced a stellar 2021-22 season, leading Real Madrid to Champions League glory and being honored with the prestigious Ballon d’Or, he faced challenges in the recently concluded season due to recurring injuries. Unfortunately, he was unable to participate in France’s World Cup campaign in Qatar last year due to a troublesome thigh problem.
Saudi Arabia has demonstrated its ambition by compiling a list of “more than 10” players who have won either the Champions League or the World Cup, aiming to attract them to their league. Negotiations have reportedly included players such as Real Madrid’s Luka Modric, Tottenham’s Hugo Lloris, and France’s N’Golo Kante, all of whom are approaching the twilight of their careers.
As the world’s largest oil producer, Saudi Arabia is not only striving to revitalize its image but also aspiring to host the World Cup in either 2030 or 2034. By investing in prominent sports figures, the nation aims to shed its austere reputation and combat accusations from human rights groups of “sportswashing.”
Real Madrid will be bidding farewell to Karim Benzema in a special ceremony scheduled for Tuesday, allowing fans and the club to express their appreciation for his significant contributions over the years.
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