Karim Benzema’s Final Goodbye to Real Madrid After 14 Unforgettable Years
Madrid, June 4, 2023 – Karim Benzema, the Ballon d’Or-winning striker, and Real Madrid’s captain, has announced his departure from the club after 14 years of service. The Frenchman, who joined the Spanish giants from Lyon in 2009, will leave as a free agent at the end of the season. He is reportedly set to join Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad, who have offered him a lucrative two-year contract.
A legend of Real Madrid and world football
Benzema leaves Real Madrid as one of their greatest legends and one of the best strikers of his generation. He is the second-highest goalscorer in the club’s history with 353 goals in 657 appearances, only behind Cristiano Ronaldo. He has won 25 major trophies with Real Madrid, including five Champions League titles, four La Liga titles, five Club World Cups and three Copa del Rey trophies.
He has also been a leader and a role model for his teammates, representing the values and professionalism of the club. He has been the captain of Real Madrid since 2021, following the departure of Sergio Ramos. He has earned the respect and admiration of fans, coaches and players around the world for his magical and unique football.
He is the current holder of the Ballon d’Or, having guided Real Madrid to their fifth Champions League title in 2022 with 15 goals in the competition. He also won the Pichichi trophy as the top scorer in La Liga with 28 goals last season.
A farewell tribute from Real Madrid
Real Madrid have confirmed that they will hold an institutional act of tribute and farewell for Benzema on Tuesday, June 6, at 12:00 noon at Real Madrid City, with the presence of their president Florentino Pérez. The club have expressed their gratitude and affection for Benzema, who they consider as one of their greatest myths and one of the great legends of world football.
“Real Madrid is and will always be his home, and we wish him and all his family the best in this new phase of his life,” the club said in a statement on Sunday.
Benzema is expected to make his final appearance for Real Madrid on Sunday against Athletic Bilbao, their last match of the 2022-23 La Liga season. Real Madrid will finish second in La Liga if they win on Sunday – but they are 11 points behind champions Barcelona and have failed to retain their Champions League title after being beaten in the semi-finals by Manchester City.
A new challenge in Saudi Arabia
Benzema will join Al-Ittihad, one of the most successful clubs in Saudi Arabia, who have won eight league titles and three Asian Champions League titles. Al-Ittihad has reportedly offered Benzema a record-breaking deal that will make him one of the highest-paid players in the world.
According to Spanish football journalist Guillem Balague, Benzema will sign a two-year contract with Al-Ittihad worth €40 million per year, plus bonuses and incentives. He will also receive a signing-on fee of €20 million and a private jet.
Benzema will join former Real Madrid teammate Luka Modric at Al-Ittihad, who signed for the Saudi club last summer. He will also reunite with former Lyon coach Claude Puel, who is currently in charge of Al-Ittihad.
Benzema will leave Real Madrid as a bigger legend than Cristiano Ronaldo, according to some fans who have praised his loyalty and consistency at the club. He will also leave as one of the best players in France’s history, despite his controversial exclusion from the national team since 2015 due to his alleged involvement in a blackmail case involving former teammate Mathieu Valbuena.
Benzema will be remembered as one of the most prolific and versatile strikers of his era, who combined power, pace, technique, vision and creativity to score spectacular goals and create chances for his teammates. He will be missed by Real Madrid and by football fans around the world.
