Real Madrid announce Karim Benzema to leave club

Karim Benzema will leave Real Madrid when his contract expires this month, the club announced on Sunday, and he is now expected to sign for Saudi Arabian side Al Ittihad.

ESPN reported earlier this week that Benzema was offered a two-year contract worth €400 million to move to Saudi Arabia in January, the same deal as Cristiano Ronaldo, who joined Al Nassr after leaving Manchester United.

Benzema, 35, has spent 14 seasons at the Bernabeu, becoming the club’s second-highest goal scorer and winning five Champions Leagues, four LaLiga titles and the 2022 Ballon d’Or.

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The centre-forward had been expected to stay at Madrid for one more season until June 2024 but is opting instead to accept a new challenge.