At 35, Karim Benzema leaves to find his former Real Madrid partner Cristiano Ronaldo in this country. Benzema signed for three seasons at Al-Ittihad.
“ Benzema has signed a contract for his transfer to Al-Ittihad, for a period of three years “, learned AFP Tuesday, June 6 from an internal source at this club based in Jeddah, on the shores of the Red Sea (west). The resounding arrival of the former Lyonnais, for an as yet undisclosed but staggering sum, is part of the great Saudi offensive targeting the stars of European football. In recent days, a contract of 200 million euros for two seasons had been mentioned by the Spanish press.
Karim Benzema said “ farewell to Real Madrid at the start of the afternoon, assuring that the time had come to “ see something else “. “ It’s a bit sad day, because I’m going to leave this club, and it hurts me. I had a dream, it was to sign at Real, and finish my career at Real. But sometimes life gives you other opportunities “Explained the French center-forward.
“ Dear Karim, you have earned the right to decide your future, and we must all accept and respect your choice. Thank you for everything you gave us. You arrived almost as a kid, and you’re leaving like a legend. This love story is eternal “, assured the boss of Real, Florentino Pérez.
Second top scorer in the history of Real Madrid
After 14 years of conquests at Real Madrid, where he notably won five Champions Leagues, the French international (97 caps, 37 goals) opted for an end to his career in the extremely wealthy Saudi Pro League supported by the Saudi Sovereign Fund ( FIS), which relies in particular on the “ soft power”, geopolitical influence, through sport.
The second top scorer in the history of Real Madrid, with 354 goals, behind CR7 (450 goals), and the fifth most capped player with 648 matches played, left the Spanish club like a prince, hailed by the Santiago stadium. Bernabeu, his teammates, his coach and his managers. ” Karim Benzema’s career at Real Madrid has been an example of behavior and professionalism, and has represented the values of our club. Karim Benzema has won the right to decide his future “explained Real, suggesting that Benzema had chosen not to extend his contract.
The “Nueve” will continue his career started in Lyon with the freshly champions of Saudi Arabia. The yellow and black “Tigers” of Jeddah are the second most successful club in the country, nine times champion (like Al-Nassr, Ronaldo’s team) and winner of two Asian Champions Leagues (Al-Nassr not l ever won), and also the Dean, founded in 1927.
Soon other stars?
Like Ronaldo at Al-Nassr, Benzema will be the overwhelming star of a squad featuring Egyptian internationals Ahmed Hegazy and Angolan Helder Costa, trained by the former manager of FC Porto or Tottenham, the Portuguese Nuno Espirito Santo.
Benzema could see other stars of European football arrive in the coming weeks. The Arabian Peninsula kingdom, criticized for human rights abuses, is determined to use football to improve its international image, and it has petrodollars galore to fulfill its ambitions.
A list of “ more than ten “stars of the round ball has been established with a view to their recruitment by Saudi clubs including Lionel Messi or Luka Modric.
With AFP