Karim Benzema has completed his move from Real Madrid to Saudi Arabia champions Al Ittihad. Last weekend, the French attacker confirmed his resignation from the Spanish team, ending a 14-year stay during which he won the Champions League five times and La Liga four times. Nuno Espirito Santo, a former manager of Wolves and Tottenham, led Al Ittihad to a five-point victory against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr, who finished second, last season. Al Ittihad shared a video of Benzema signing a contract through 2026 on Twitter, but the club made no mention of the terms of the deal.
“I’m eager to play in a new football league in a foreign nation,” Karim Benzema said after completing his move to Al Ittihad. “I’ve had the good fortune to do wonderful things in my work and to accomplish whatever I can in Spain and Europe. It now appears that the time has come for a new task and project. I’m excited to meet my new teammates and work with them to elevate this incredible club and the game in Saudi Arabia to new heights.”
Benzema has been at Real Madrid since 2009, where he won a club-record 25 trophies. His last season at Real Madrid saw him captain the team to the Copa del Rey final, although they finished second in La Liga behind Barcelona and lost in the Champions League semi-finals to Manchester City. He said goodbye to the supporters after scoring in his final game for Real Madrid, a 1-1 tie with Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.
Last month, Al Ittihad of Jeddah won their first Saudi league title since 2009, defeating Ronaldo’s Al Nassr of Riyadh, who had led for much of the season. Benzema will be by far the most well-known player on a team that has depended largely on Moroccan striker Abderrazak Hamdallah, the league’s leading scorer, this season.
After deciding to leave Real Madrid, Benzema bid farewell to the club in a modest, private ceremony restricted to supporters and journalists on Tuesday. Benzema scored 354 goals in 14 years with Real Madrid, ranking second only to Cristiano Ronaldo on the club’s all-time scoring record.
“I will remember Real Madrid forever. It’s not feasible. It’s the greatest club in history, but I believe now is the time to go and learn about another narrative,” he added. “It’s tough to speak with so many emotions, but I wanted to express my gratitude to Real Madrid and my teammates. It was a positive turning point in my life. I was fortunate enough to realise a boyhood ambition.”
“In our club, you have set a good example of behavior and professionalism,” Real Madrid president Florentino Perez said. “You have a right to control your course in life. You alone own your destiny, and we must respect that.”
After Karim Benzema announced his resignation from the club after 14 years, Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti admitted he was taken aback. The former international for France joined Real from their local club Lyon in 2009 and played in 658 games. After the striker’s final match for the team, Ancelotti paid respect to the retiring player, telling reporters that he had coached one of the “best players in the world” and praising the attitude of the seasoned forward.
“Yes, it came as a huge surprise to everyone, but we had to realize that he had given it some serious thought and that this was all a part of a transformation that began at the club a few years ago and will continue next season,” Ancelotti said. “So we have time to consider our options [to replace Benzema], and I can tell you that the team will be highly competitive the following year. Being able to mentor one of the finest players in the world, as well as one of the top attackers, makes you a very complete football coach. Someone who is extremely nice, modest, and serious. It is clear from his farewell that we cannot be pleased but must accept his choice. He has earned the right to decide where he wants to be, and both I and the rest of the group would like to express our gratitude for the remarkable work he has accomplished at this club. ”
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