It’s now official! Karim Benzema is leaving Real Madrid after 14 seasons. Real Madrid revealed on Sunday that Karim Benzema would depart the team this summer.
He is currently anticipated to join Saudi Arabian team Al Ittihad. As previously revealed by Tru News Report, after 14 years with the LaLiga giants, Benzema had made the decision to quit in order to accept a lucrative offer from a team in Saudi Arabia.
The 2022 Ballon d’Or winner and Real Madrid’s second-highest goal scorer all-time, Benzema has won a club-record 25 trophies with the team, including five Champions Leagues and four LaLiga championships.
“Real Madrid C.F. and our captain Karim Benzema have agreed to put an end to his brilliant and unforgettable time as a player for our club,” Madrid said in a statement. “Real Madrid wants to show its gratitude and all its affection for a player who is already one of our greatest legends.
“Karim Benzema’s career at Real Madrid has been an example of behaviour and professionalism, and he has represented the values of our club. Karim Benzema has earned the right to decide his future … Real Madrid is and will always be his home, and we wish him and his entire family all the best in this new phase of his life.”
The club said an event would be held at its training ground on Tuesday to pay tribute to Benzema.
According to what we shared previously, Benzema recently declined a lucrative offer to go to Saudi Arabia. The Frenchman would have joined his former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, who completed a sensational transfer to Al-Nassr in January if he had chosen to leave the La Liga champions.
Benzema, who won the Ballon d’Or last year, is still an important player for Real Madrid. In all competitions, he scored 44 goals, 15 of which came during their Champions League run. The 35-year-old has scored 25 goals so far this season, despite the fact that they are about to give up their La Liga title.
The center-forward decided to take on a new challenge rather than continue playing for Madrid for one more season until June 2024 as had been anticipated. After a rocky start, Benzema joined Madrid from Lyon in 2009 and quickly established himself as part of one of the team’s most productive forward lines with Ronaldo and Gareth Bale.
When Cristiano Ronaldo left Real Madrid in 2018, he assumed the role of the club’s top scorer. He enjoyed a career-best season in 2018, netting 27 goals in LaLiga and 15 goals in the Champions League as the team won both championships. When Benzema received the Ballon d’Or in October, such form was acknowledged. The Madrid captain missed the World Cup this year due to injuries, but he still scored 18 goals.
His 25 trophies at the club — a record shared with Marcelo — consist of four LaLiga titles, five Champions Leagues, three Copas del Rey, four Spanish Supercopas, four UEFA Super Cups and five FIFA Club World Cups.
Karim Benzema salary, contract and net worth
Karim Benzema earns £278,000 per week, and £14,456,000 per year playing for Real Madrid. Karim Benzema’s net worth is £126,256,000. Karim Benzema is 34 years old and was born in France. His current contract expires on June 30, 2024.
