According to sources at ESPN, Karim Benzema is set to depart from Real Madrid as his contract expires this month. The French striker will join Al Ittihad, a Saudi Arabian team, in his new venture. This news comes after ESPN reported earlier this week that Benzema had been offered a lucrative two-year contract worth €400 million to make the move to Saudi Arabia, following in the footsteps of Cristiano Ronaldo, who joined Al Nassr after leaving Manchester United.

Having spent an impressive 14 seasons at the Bernabeu, Benzema leaves behind a legacy as the club’s second-highest goal scorer and a collection of trophies that include five Champions League titles, four LaLiga titles, and the prestigious 2022 Ballon d’Or award. At 35 years old, Benzema had initially been expected to remain with Real Madrid for another season until June 2024. However, he has decided to embrace a fresh challenge and embark on a new chapter in his career. Follow your favourite La Liga team with attractive football betting odds from Nextbet.

Real Madrid is already in advanced talks to secure the loan signing of Joselu as a replacement for Mariano Diaz. However, the club will continue to search for additional attacking options to reinforce their squad.

When asked about the reports, Benzema remained tight-lipped during the Marca Legends award ceremony on Thursday. He avoided discussing his future, emphasizing that he is currently a player at Real Madrid and highlighting the fact that not everything on the internet should be taken as reality. Benzema emphasized his focus on the present, expressing his enjoyment of his time with the team and emphasizing the upcoming game and training session.

This season, the club captain has faced challenges due to injuries, which resulted in him missing the 2022 World Cup in Qatar due to a hamstring problem. Nevertheless, he managed to score an impressive 18 goals in 23 LaLiga appearances and an additional four goals in the Champions League knockout stage.

When Benzema arrived at Real Madrid from Lyon in 2009, he was already regarded as one of Europe’s most promising young forwards. Initially competing with Gonzalo Higuain for a place in the starting lineup, Benzema later became an integral part of Madrid’s formidable “BBC” forward line, alongside Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo.

In response to questions about addressing the Madrid fans regarding his future, Benzema dismissed the notion, highlighting that the rumors stem from internet sources and that reality should not be conflated with online speculation. He reflected on his career, expressing his pride in joining Real Madrid as a young player and cherishing the victories and successes he has enjoyed. The Santiago Bernabeu holds a special place in his heart as the stadium where football’s greatest legends have played.

Benzema also mentioned the significance of Real Madrid’s memorable journey to the Champions League final last year, acknowledging that it was a unique experience. Although he is uncertain if such a remarkable feat will occur again, he acknowledged the love and support he feels from the Bernabeu faithful when he steps onto the pitch. He emphasized that football should be about enjoyment and that if the day comes when training feels like work at Valdebebas, he will consider retiring.

Following Ronaldo’s departure from Real Madrid in 2018, Benzema took on the mantle as the team’s primary goal threat. He had a career-best season in 2021-22, finishing as LaLiga’s top scorer with 27 goals and adding another 15 goals in the Champions League. His exceptional form earned him the Ballon d’Or award in October 2022.

With his departure from Madrid, Benzema leaves behind an impressive haul of 24 trophies, including four LaLiga titles and five Champions League victories. Additionally, he has won three Copa del Rey titles, three Spanish Supercopas, four UEFA Super Cups and five FIFA Club World Cups. Follow Nextbet Sports to get the latest updates from the La Liga.