June 04, (THEWILL) – On Sunday, Real Madrid confirmed Karim Benzema’s departure after an impressive 14-year tenure with the club.
As THEWILL previously reported, a lucrative offer from Saudi Arabia had been extended to Benzema, with the Frenchman seemingly opting for a Spanish exit. Despite having recently been offered a fresh contract until June 2024, Real Madrid acknowledged the French striker’s decision to leave and chose not to impede his desired move.
In an official statement released on Sunday morning, Real Madrid expressed gratitude to their captain: “Karim Benzema has earned the right to decide his future.” The club recognised the magic and uniqueness he brought to the game, solidifying his place as a legendary figure in both the club’s history and world football.
While bidding farewell, Real Madrid reassured Benzema that the club will always be his home, extending warm wishes to him and his family in this new phase of his life. Indeed, rumors of Benzema’s departure had circulated amongst his Madrid teammates for several weeks.
The departure of the Frenchman marks the end of a remarkable era, with Benzema scoring a remarkable 353 goals in 647 appearances, second only to Cristiano Ronaldo’s tally of 450 goals in 438 games. During his time at Real Madrid, Benzema secured 24 titles, including four La Liga triumphs and five Champions League trophies.
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.
