After 14 seasons, 25 titles, and five Champions League victories, one of the greatest attackers in sports history, Karim Benzema, is apparently leaving Real Madrid. The 35-year-old striker is moving on to join Al-Ittihad of Saudi Arabia. Much of the latest soccer headlines is looking at the FA Cup, but when a player as high caliber as Benzema moves clubs, it’s a big deal.
So if you are planning to be an online bookie, keep track of the international soccer landscape, as many players are starting to fill in rosters in Middle Eastern soccer clubs. Back in January, Benzema received the same offer as Cristiano Ronaldo, who signed with Al Nassr after leaving Manchester United, for a two-year, €400 million contract. Benzema decided to take on a new challenge rather than continue playing for Madrid. He would have played for one more season until June 2024 as had been anticipated. However, Madrid will hunt for someone else to bolster the assault. Madrid is in advanced talks to sign Joselu on a loan to replace Mariano Diaz.
Karim Benzema to leave Madrid
Despite missing the 2022 World Cup in Qatar due to a hamstring injury due to an injury-plagued season, Madrid’s club captain still scored 18 goals in 23 LaLiga games and four goals in the Champions League knockout round. After Ronaldo left the team in 2018, Benzema became into the team’s primary goal threat. He scored the most goals of his career in 2021–22, leading LaLiga with 27, and adding another 15 in the Champions League. His performance earned him the Ballon d’Or in October 2022.
With the four LaLiga championships, five Champions League victories, three Copas del Reys, three Spanish Supercopas, four UEFA Super Cups, and five FIFA Club World Cups under his belt, Benzema will depart Madrid with a total of 24 trophies. Only Ronaldo, the club’s all-time leading scorer, has more goals than his 353 Real Madrid goals, surpassing club luminaries like Raul Gonzalez and Alfredo di Stefano. Keep track of more popular athletes familiar in your sportsbook pay per head betting lines throughout the year.
