On Sunday, Real Madrid made the announcement that Karim Benzema would be leaving the club this summer. He is now expected to sign for Al Ittihad, a team in Saudi Arabia.
ESPN reported on Thursday that Benzema had accepted a lucrative offer from a Saudi Arabian club and decided to leave the LaLiga giants after 14 years.
Benzema has won a record 25 trophies with Real Madrid, including five Champions League titles and four LaLiga titles, and the 2022 Ballon d'Or. He is Real Madrid's second-highest goal scorer all time.
"Genuine Madrid C.F. what's more, our skipper Karim Benzema have consented to stop his splendid and extraordinary time as a player for our club," Madrid said in a proclamation. " A player who is already considered one of our greatest legends is the object of Real Madrid's desire to convey its sincere gratitude and affection.
"Karim Benzema's vocation at Genuine Madrid has been an illustration of conduct and incredible skill, and he has addressed the upsides of our club. Real Madrid will always be Karim Benzema's home, and we wish him and his family all the best as he enters this new phase of his life. "Karim Benzema has earned the right to decide his future."
On Tuesday, the club said it would hold a tribute event at its training facility.
ESPN revealed before in the week that Benzema had been offered a two-year agreement worth €400 million to move to Saudi Arabia in January, a similar arrangement as Cristiano Ronaldo, who joined Al Nassr subsequent to leaving Manchester Joined together.
The center forward, who was anticipated to remain with Madrid until June 2024, has chosen to accept a new challenge instead.
After a difficult start, Benzema became one of Madrid's most successful forward lines alongside Ronaldo and Gareth Bale when he moved from Lyon to Madrid in 2009.
When Ronaldo left Madrid in 2018, he took over as the team's leading goal scorer. He had a career-best year last year, scoring 27 times in LaLiga and 15 times in the Champions League as Madrid won both trophies. When Benzema won the Ballon d'Or in October, it showed that he had developed that style.
The Madrid chief has battled with wounds this season, missing the World Cup, yet at the same time scored 18 objectives in 23 LaLiga games.
His 25 awards at the club include four LaLiga titles, five Champions Leagues, three Copas del Rey, four Spanish Supercopas, four UEFA Super Cups, and five FIFA Club World Cups—a record he shares with Marcelo.
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