Real Madrid has officially announced that Karim Benzema (35) will not be remaining at the club after this summer. A farewell tribute will be held for him on Tuesday, June 6th, at the Ciudad Real Madrid, presided over by Florentino Perez, the club’s president.
Benzema confirmed his departure, which was also confirmed by Ancelotti on Saturday, after receiving an irresistible offer from Saudi Arabia. The offer amounted to 200 million euros for a two-year contract, and Benzema passed it on to Real Madrid.
After several days of contemplation, the captain has made what may be the most difficult decision of his sporting career: leaving the Bernabeu to join a less competitive league in exchange for a significant financial reward. It marks a golden retirement for a player who carefully considered his physical condition and the demands of another season as Real Madrid’s first-choice striker before making his choice to depart.
Since joining Real Madrid in 2009 from Lyon, Benzema has been the focal point of the club’s attack and their primary goal-scoring threat, especially after Ronaldo’s departure for Juventus in 2018.
Benzema has scored over 350 goals for Real Madrid and enjoyed his most exceptional season in 2021-22, finding the net 44 times in all competitions, leading the team to their 14th European title and securing the LaLiga crown.
Throughout his career, he has won an astounding 25 trophies with the club, including five European Cups, four LaLiga titles, and three Copas del Rey.
