Saudi champions Al Ittihad sign ‘global football icon’ Karim Benzema
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Benzema (centre) joins the Saudi Arabian champions on a three-year deal and will wear the number nine shirt.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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MADRID – Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema is looking forward to a “new challenge” as he became the latest big-name player to head to Saudi Arabia, joining Al Ittihad as a free agent following his departure from Real Madrid.
The French striker, who ended a trophy-laden 14 years at Real this week, joins the Saudi Arabian champions on a three-year deal and will wear the No. 9 shirt.
“I’m excited to experience a new football league in a different country. I’ve been fortunate to achieve amazing things in my career, achieve everything I can in Spain and Europe,” Benzema, 35, said.
“It now feels the time is right for a new challenge and project... I am looking forward to joining my new teammates and, together with them, help take this amazing club and the game in Saudi Arabia to new levels.”
Benzema follows his former Real teammate Cristiano Ronaldo to the Gulf country after the Portugal forward signed a 2½ year contract estimated by media to be worth more than €200 million (S$288 million) with Al Nassr in December.
Having joined Real in 2009 from Lyon, Benzema became the spearhead of the club’s attack after Ronaldo left for Juventus in 2018, winning the Champions League five times and the La Liga title four times.
He had his best season with Real in the 2021-22 campaign, when he scored 44 goals in all competitions to lead the club to a record-extending 14th European title as well as the La Liga crown.
He won the Ballon d’Or in 2022 and looked set to stay at the Spanish club for one more year, after a 2022-23 season in which he struggled with injuries and missed out on France’s World Cup squad.
However, an offer estimated to be worth more than €100 million from Saudi Arabia made him rethink his decision.
“Benzema’s arrival is the most impactful transfer in the club’s history to date,” said Al Ittihad. “It also marks another huge step in the Saudi Pro League’s journey to become one of football’s leading destinations for the world’s very best after its biggest season to date.”
Al Ittihad’s club president Anmar Alhailae also hailed the signing as a major achievement, saying: “Karim is a global football icon, he’s box office and very much at the top of his powers.”
Several high-profile players have been linked with moves to Saudi Arabia in recent weeks, with a source close to Argentina captain Lionel Messi telling Reuters that he had received a formal offer to join Al Hilal next season.
The list includes Argentina winger Angel di Maria, as well as the likes of Real Madrid and Croatia midfielder Luka Modric, Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and his France teammate N’Golo Kante. All are at the tail-end of their careers. REUTERS, AFP
