Karim Benzema leaves Al-Ittihad and returns to Real

Under contract with Al-Ittihad until June 2026, Karim Benzema plans to retire next June. His future is already mapped out with a return to Real Madrid as ambassador.

Saudi Arabia's flagship recruit in the summer of 2023, Karim Benzema had signed a colossal contract with Al-Ittihad until June 2026. The idea for the OL-trained striker was to end his career in the Saudi Pro League at the age of 37, but according to information from Relevo, the former Real Madrid striker's plan is changing. And for good reason, the Spanish media reveals that “KB9” would consider ending his career as a professional footballer next June, a year before the end of his contract with Al-Ittihad.

Sportingly, Karim Benzema is still at the level in the Saudi championship as confirmed by his 10 goals and 3 assists in only 11 matches played. But the former French international clearly no longer has the flame and above all, he could see himself returning more quickly than expected to Europe and particularly to Spain. Having lived in Madrid for more than ten years, Karim Benzema is homesick and would like to return to the Spanish capital as quickly as possible. This is good, an agreement has already been reached with Real Madrid to join the Merengue club as an ambassador at the end of his career.

Karim Benzema in Saudi Arabia, it's almost over

A potential departure that the Saudi club is experiencing well to everyone's surprise, because Al-Ittihad would not spit on a salary saving estimated at around 100 million euros if Karim Benzema gave up his last year of contract. For its part, Real Madrid is delighted to bring back its former striker, whose mission would be to make the name of the Madrid club shine in the Arab world. Karim Benzema returns to Real Madrid, a “strategic signature” from Florentino Pérez, convinced that the image of his former striker can be useful to the Merengue club for marketing purposes in several cases for years to come. A return which is therefore no longer in doubt, and which has a good chance of materializing from the month of June.