June 07, (THEWILL) – Real Madrid’s star striker, Karim Benzema, is set to embark on a new chapter in his illustrious career as he joins Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia.
The three-year deal was confirmed on Twitter by the Jeddah-based club on Tuesday, marking the beginning of an exciting journey for the Ballon d’Or winner: “Benzema is here. A new tiger will roar. Welcome to Ittihad!” Benzema will be directly competing against former Real Madrid teammate, Cristiano Ronaldo, who transferred to Al Nassr from Manchester United after last year’s World Cup.
It makes for interesting times as there are rumors linking Lionel Messi, who recently announced his departure from Paris Saint-Germain, with a potential move to Saudi Arabia. Al Hilal, another Saudi Arabian club, have reportedly sent officials to France in an attempt to secure a deal for Lionel Messi. The Saudi delegation intends to meet Messi’s father and agent, Jorge, in hopes of finalising the signing as swiftly as possible.
Saudi Arabia, known for its ambitious sporting initiatives, aims to attract renowned players who have achieved success in competitions like the UEFA Champions League or the World Cup. Among the players on their radar are Luka Modric, Hugo Lloris, and N’Golo Kante.
Benzema arrived at Madrid from Lyon in 2009 and went on to make 648 appearances for the club. With an impressive tally of 354 goals, Benzema holds the second-highest position on Real Madrid’s all-time goalscoring list, second only to Ronaldo. His numerous achievements at Madrid include five UCL titles, four La Liga titles, and three Copas del Rey. Although injuries plagued him in the past season, preventing his participation in France’s World Cup campaign in Qatar, Benzema’s exceptional performance in the 2021/2022 season earned him the prestigious Ballon d’Or.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
