Former Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema is considering retiring this season and will become Real Madrid’s Middle East-focused ambassador, according to a report.
The man who won football’s most prestigious individual award in 2022 has already agreed to represent his former club in a global role, Relief he said, adding that the 36-year-old is most likely to stop playing when his contract with Al-Ittihad expires in 2026.
The paper claimed that Benzema has “not made a final decision” on whether to hang up his boots at the end of this campaign, saying he is “starting to tire” of training sessions with the Saudi Pro League side, which take place in the afternoon due to of high morning temperatures in Jeddah.
When we speak, we must take responsibility ☄️ #alhamdulillah 🤲🏼🤍 pic.twitter.com/tBVu2qmiWz
— Karim Benzema (@Benzema) December 6, 2024
Benzema in Saudi Arabia
After leaving Madrid a year before his contract expired, Benzema joined Al-Ittihad on a three-year deal in 2023.
His first season saw a return of 13 goals and eight assists in 29 games, which was low by his prolific standards, as Al-Ittihad endured a turbulent 2023/24 campaign, finishing trophyless and fifth in the top flight, as well as relegating present-day Nottingham. Forest Director Nuno Espirito Santo in November.
Former Barcelona sporting director Ramon Plans joined the nine-time champions in the same role he had at the Spanish giants in January and ex-PSG boss Laurent Blanc has guided them to the top of the table since replacing Argentine Marcelo Gallardo in July.
Despite missing three matches through injury, Benzema has contributed 10 goals in 10 league games along the way, including one in a 2-1 win over Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nasr in Al-Ittihad’s final game before the winter break. interrupting them.
Looking to the future with @Saudi2034bid 🇸🇦🏆 pic.twitter.com/Z8ZsUDaFUr
— Karim Benzema (@Benzema) December 8, 2024
Statistics Benzema Real Madrid
A five-time Champions League winner during 14 years at Madrid, Benzema’s 354 goals for the club make him second all-time top scorer behind former team-mate Ronaldo, who reached 451.
He is said to want to live in Madrid again and build on his “excellent relationship” with the Spanish champions’ president, Florentino Perez.
The 2022 World Cup runner-up with France has said in interviews that he sees himself as an ambassador for football in Saudi Arabia who can help attract more European footballers to the league.
The report says there is “no one better” than Benzema to “carry the Madrid name through Arabia and be a marketing attraction in a booming financial market”.
Al-Ittihad are next in action in a King Cup quarter-final with Saudi Arabian champions Al-Hilal, who sit two points below them in the Pro League, on January 7 (17:30 GMT).
