REAL MADRID
Karim Benzema set to leave Real Madrid: French journalist announces his Bernabéu exit
The striker shared a post from ESPN reporter Julien Laurens praising Benzema for his incredible career.
Real Madrid captain Karim Benzema looks destined to leave the club this summer, bringing to a close an incredible 14-year spell that saw him win every in the Spanish capital.
French journalist and close friend of Benzema’s, Julien Laurens, was the first to share the news on his social media. Confirming the 35-year-old’s decision to leave, Laurens wrote: “His legacy is immense. An incredible person and an incredible player. One of the greatest ever.”
He recently extended his contract until next summer but appears to have had a change of heart. After more than a decade of stellar service the club is unlikely to stand in his way if he has decided to leave.
Benzema has not quite been at the same incredible level as last year, in which he scored 44 goals in all competitions, but he has still reached the 30-goal mark for a third consecutive season. He is behind only Robert Lewandowski in the LaLiga goal-scoring charts.
Laurens paid tribute to the French forward with a post on Instagram praising Benzema’s incredible performances over the years. Benzema shared the message on his own account, suggesting that he has indeed decided to leave Madrid.
Benzema has won everything that there is to win in club football since his his move from Lyon in 2009, even picking up the Ballon D’Or last year after an incredible season that ended in the double for Madrid.
The Frenchman was a key part of one of the most sensational Champions League campaigns of all time, scoring countless crucial goals en route to Madrid’s 14th European title.
Now it looks like he will follow in the footsteps of Cristiano Ronaldo, for so long his on-field partner, in moving to the Saudi Pro League. He will be a rival of Ronaldo’s, however, joining Al-Ittihad.
It is thought that Benzema will pocket roughly $220 million across two seasons in the Saudi top flight. This weekend’s LaLiga clash against Athletic Bilbao looks set to be his final game in the famous white of Real Madrid.