Benzema joins Al-Ittihad on a three-year contract.
Benzema joins Al-Ittihad on a three-year contract.
For a week, there have been discussions that Karim Benzema is going to Saudi Arabia. Last Saturday, Real Madrid confirmed their star player's departure from the club, and today it has been revealed that he has officially signed a three-year contract with Al-Ittihad.
The news of Benzema's contract has been confirmed by a source. The source stated, "Benzema has signed a three-year contract with Al-Ittihad." This means he will play until June 2025, and if he wishes, he can continue playing until 2026.
Spanish media has reported that after Cristiano Ronaldo's move to the Saudi club, Benzema will become the second-highest-paid player in the world. Although the exact figure of the contract is unknown, it is believed that he will not earn less than €220 million in three years. The amount could even reach up to €320 million. He will also receive a bonus of €20 million per year. He will receive the bonus as an ambassador for the 2030 FIFA World Cup in Saudi Arabia.
Benzema spent 14 seasons with Real Madrid, playing 647 matches as a 35-year-old striker. He scored 353 goals. Only Cristiano Ronaldo surpasses him in terms of goal-scoring.
During his time at Real Madrid, Benzema won 5 UEFA Champions League titles, 4 La Liga titles, and 3 Copa del Rey titles. He also won the prestigious Ballon d'Or award for being the world's best player in the 2021-2022 season.
By joining Al-Ittihad, Benzema reunites with an old friend but also becomes a rival. His rival is Ronaldo. Both have won the Ballon d'Or five times and have been playing for Al Nassr for the past season. These two are not the only stars that can be seen in the Saudi Pro League. The Saudi clubs have already made offers to many star footballers, including Lionel Messi, Toni Kroos, Lukas Modric, and Sergio Busquets.