Real Madrid confirmed the departure of French striker Karim Benzema on Sunday June 4. “Real Madrid CF and our captain, Karim Benzema, have agreed to end his brilliant and unforgettable period as a player of our club,” formalized the most successful club in the European Cup in a press release, welcoming ” one who is already one of [his] greatest legends”.
Arrived in 2009 at Real at only 21 years old, the former international (97 caps, 37 goals) will have won everything with Casa Blanca. Winner in particular of five Champions Leagues and four Spanish championships, the striker leaves crowned with twenty-five titles to his name. A record for a Real Madrid player.
A “tribute” will be paid on Tuesday to the one who became Real’s fifth most capped player (647 games) and second top scorer (353 goals). In the meantime, “El Nueve” is hoped for at the start of the 38th day of La Liga against Bilbao, for a final appearance at the Bernadeu stadium. It will be his 648th match in the jersey that promoted him to football stardom.
“Why should I talk about my future?” »
“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 earned the right to decide his future,” the club added, without specifying the destination of their 35-year-old striker.
His name has been linked for several days to Saudi Arabia, which would promise him a golden bridge to end his career there. “Why should I talk about my future?” I am in Madrid. Those who talk do it on the Internet, and the reality is not the Internet,” Benzema retorted Thursday evening during a ceremony in tribute to his career organized by the Spanish sports daily Marca. Only three days after this outing, the striker’s future is partly decided: he will not write to Madrid.
