After 14 seasons at Real Madrid, Karim Benzema has chosen to move on in his career, despite the fact that the parties were long said to agree on an extension. Now it is clear that the Ballon d’Or winner is moving to Saudi Arabia.
On Tuesday it became official that Al-Ittihad signed Benzema. The contract runs until the summer of 2026.
– I am excited to meet you in Jeddah, he says in a statement.
– I am excited to experience a new league in a new country. Al-Ittihad has a great history, incredibly passionate fans and big ambitions to become a force in Asia after winning the league.
He continues:
– I have been lucky enough to achieve some great things in my career, but now I feel it is the right time for a new challenge and a new project. I look forward to connecting with my new teammates and, together with them, helping this great club and football in Saudi Arabia to new heights.
Earlier, the Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo claimed that the 35-year-old’s contract with Al-Ittihad is worth 200 million euros, corresponding to roughly 2.3 billion kroner, net per season. Transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano has the same information.
This means that Benzema has the chance to earn around seven billion if he plays out his contract with the newly crowned Saudi champion club. Al-Ittihad won the domestic top league this year five points ahead of Al-Nassr, where the Frenchman’s former Real Madrid teammate and superstar Cristiano Ronaldo plays.
Benzema will now be coached by former Wolverhampton and Tottenham coach Nuno Espírito Santo, who has been in charge of Al-Ittihad since last summer.
In total, Karim Benzema scored 354 goals and 165 assists in 648 games for Real Madrid. With him from his time at the capital club, he has 25 titles, as well as a Ballon d’Or award in 2022.
2023-06-06 18:09:00
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