Karim Benzema Move to Al-Ittihad? Real Madrid Contract Nears Expiry
Reports suggest that Karim Benzema may earn a lower salary compared to former Real Madrid teammate Cristiano Ronaldo if he chooses to move to Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad during the summer transfer window. Benzema’s contract with Real Madrid is expiring, and there have been strong rumours linking him with a move to Saudi Arabia. According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the French striker is seriously considering the move and could make a decision soon.
Should Karim Benzema join Al-Ittihad, he would follow in the footsteps of Cristiano Ronaldo, who joined Al-Nassr in December 2022. Ronaldo signed a lucrative two-and-a-half-year contract worth €200 million per year, including endorsements. Journalist Toni Juanmarti suggests that Benzema’s salary at Al-Ittihad would be less than €200 million per year. However, the Saudi Arabian club is reportedly confident in signing the French striker and has agreed to many of his demands.
Benzema has experienced a challenging 2022-23 season following an exceptional previous campaign. He won the prestigious Ballon d’Or award in 2022 after helping Real Madrid clinch the La Liga title and the UEFA Champions League. However, this season has been marred by multiple injury setbacks for the 35-year-old. Despite this, he has managed to score 30 goals in 41 games across various competitions for Los Blancos.
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After missing out on the 2022 FIFA World Cup due to injury, Benzema decided to retire from the French national team. Initially, manager Didier Deschamps had selected him, but he sustained an injury during the warm-up phase before the tournament.
With the opportunity to leave these setbacks behind, Benzema can embark on a new chapter in Saudi Arabia. Al-Ittihad, having secured the Saudi Pro League title ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr, are also riding high on success.
