BREAKING NEWS Real Madrid announce Karim Benzema is LEAVING the club
Real Madrid announce Karim Benzema is LEAVING the club this summer after agreeing to end his 14-year spell… as a £345 million move to Saudi Arabia looms for the Ballon d’Or winner
- Real Madrid have confirmed that Karim Benzema will leave the club this summer
- The 35-year-old leaves as Los Blancos’ second-highest goalscorer of all time
- Ballon d’Or winner will reportedly join Saudi Pro League champions Al-Ittihad
Karim Benzema will leave Real Madrid this summer after 14 years in the Spanish capital to join Saudi side Al-Ittihad.
The 35-year-old’s departure was confirmed on Sunday via a official statement on the club’s website that referred to the striker as a “fundamental player in this golden age of our history.”
The winner of the Ballon d’Or will join the Jeddah side on a deal reportedly worth more than £172 million a year.
Currently managed by former Wolves and Tottenham boss Nuno Espirito Santo, Al-Ittihad won the 2022-23 Saudi Pro League, five points ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr.
Earlier this month, Benzema downplayed reports he would be leaving the club this summer and insisted he stay in Madrid, at least for now.
Benzema has made over 600 appearances in all competitions for Los Blancos and is the club’s second highest goalscorer of all time, behind only Cristiano Ronaldo.
Then-Madrid manager Manuel Pellegrini brought Benzema to the Bernabéu in 2009 after enjoying a fruitful pair of campaigns in Ligue 1 with Lyon.
Since then, the striker has been an integral part of Real Madrid’s dominance, winning five Champions League tiles and four La Liga titles.
More to follow
Karim Benzema leaves Real Madrid after 14 brilliant years at the Spanish club
