Real Madrid announces departure of Benzema after 14 years – 04/06/2023 – Sport

Karim Benzema’s historic spell at Real Madrid has come to an end. The Spanish club confirmed on Sunday morning (4) the rumors that had gained strength in the previous days and announced the end of the victorious partnership with the 35-year-old French striker – who, by all indications, is on his way to Al Ittihad, from Saudi Arabia.

According to the statement, board and player agreed to end a “brilliant and unforgettable period”. “Real Madrid would like to show our gratitude and affection for a player who is already one of our greatest legends”, says the text published by the association, which calls for a farewell to the striker next Tuesday (6).

Current owner of the Ballon d’Or –best in the world, according to France Football magazine, in the 2021/2022 season–, Benzema was a key player in the team’s achievements in recent years. Hired in 2009, still at 21, he gained importance over almost a decade and a half, extremely successful even by the very high standards of the association.

Revealed by Lyon, Karim arrived at Real in the same year that Cristiano Ronaldo was signed, then the most expensive player in the world. Until 2018, when the Portuguese moved to Juventus, he worked as an accessory of (very high) luxury for his partner, with whom he won the Champions League four times.

With the departure of Cristiano, the Frenchman of Algerian origin took charge of the attack. It already had the confidence to refer to itself as an F1 car, compared to competitors who were karts. He lived his best season even in 2021/22, quite decisive in winning another European title.

Benzema leaves Real Madrid with 25 titles, something no other athlete has ever achieved. In addition to the already mentioned five editions of the Champions League that he won, he triumphed five times in the Club World Cup, four in the European Super Cup, four in the Spanish Championship, three in the Copa del Rey and four in the Spanish Super Cup.

While lifting these cups, the striker became the fifth person who most wore the team’s shirt, with 647 appearances. With 353 goals for the Whites, he only scored fewer goals than his old teammate Cristiano Ronaldo (450), who now plays for Al Nassr and should now be his rival in Saudi Arabia.