Karim Benzema to LEAVE Real Madrid! Why star’s Saudi move is ‘awkward’ for Real | ESPN FC
18 Video Views·May 30, 2025
ESPN FC’s Alex Kirkland breaks down Karim Benzema’s surprise decision to swap Real Madrid for Saudi Arabian champions Al Ittihad.
This is a story that has developed extremely fast.
Very recently, as recently as last week, in fact,
everyone was still convinced that Karim Benzema will be staying at Real Madrid
for one more season. That is something that had been discussed with the club.
However, things change. He received this extremely attractive offer from Saudi Arabia.
He thought about it and he has now decided to accept it.
And although it puts Real Madrid in a bit of a tricky position
because they were planning for the succession to take place in 2024,
it now has to happen now. They now have to bring in not one but two centre-forwards this summer
because they were already looking for a Karim Benzema backup.
So even though that's a little bit awkward for the club,
I don't think they'll begrudge Benzema too much making this decision at this stage.
After everything he's done for the club, after everything he's won with the club,
up to and including and especially what he did last season with that Ballon d'Or win,
I think they will understand this decision
and they'll want to make sure that his send-off is the right one
because this is one of the great Real Madrid players of the modern era.
No question about that. 24 trophies won during his time.
I think it's five Champions Leagues, four La Liga titles,
and individually, like I say, the Ballon d'Or last year as well.
So Benzema leaves. It does feel a bit like the end of an era
and it's the continuation, I guess, of this transition
that this Real Madrid team is in the middle of right now.
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