Real Madrid has officially announced the departure of French footballer Karim Benzema after a remarkable 14-year tenure with the club. The news was confirmed through an official statement, as reported by journalist Fabrizio Romano. The 35-year-old forward has reached an agreement with the Spanish side to conclude his illustrious era at Real Madrid, as reported by AFP.
While there have been recent rumors linking Benzema to a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia, Real Madrid’s announcement signifies the end of his career at the club. In their statement, Los Blancos expressed their gratitude and affection towards Benzema, recognizing him as one of their greatest legends.
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The decision comes despite comments made by Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti just a day prior, asserting that there was no doubt about Benzema’s future at the club, as the forward still had one more year remaining on his contract.
Benzema joined Real Madrid in 2009 from Lyon in Ligue 1, forming a formidable attacking trio known as the “BBC” alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale. After Ronaldo’s departure in 2018, Benzema stepped up as a leader within the team.
During his time at Real Madrid, Benzema has amassed an impressive collection of 24 trophies, including five Champions League titles, four La Liga titles, and three Copa del Rey trophies. He is also the current holder of the Ballon d’Or, awarded to the world’s best player.
As the second-highest scorer in Real Madrid’s history, Benzema has netted 353 goals for the club, trailing only Cristiano Ronaldo’s record of 450 goals. His final appearance for Real Madrid may occur later today as the team hosts Athletic Bilbao in a La Liga match at the Santiago Bernabeu.
In addition to Benzema’s departure, Real Madrid has confirmed the exits of Eden Hazard, Marco Asensio, and Mariano Diaz this summer, opening up opportunities for new attacking acquisitions. However, Ancelotti refrained from commenting on the club’s rumored interest in England and Tottenham striker Harry Kane during a recent press conference.
