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Former Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema is considering retirement this season and will become a Real Madrid ambassador with a focus on the Middle East, according to a report.
The man who won football’s most prestigious individual award in 2022 has already agreed to represent his former club on a global level. Relief has said, adding that the 36-year-old will most likely stop playing when his contract with Al-Ittihad ends in 2026.
The outlet stated that Benzema “has not made a final decision” on whether he will hang up his boots at the end of this campaign and stated that he is “starting to get tired” of training with the Saudi Pro League club, which are held in the afternoon due to the high morning temperatures in Jeddah.
When we speak, we have to take responsibility ☄️ #alhamdulillah 🤲🏼🤍 pic.twitter.com/tBVu2qmiWz
-Karim Benzema (@Benzema) December 6, 2024
Benzema in Saudi Arabia
After leaving Madrid a year before his contract expired, Benzema signed for Al-Ittihad on a three-year contract in 2023.
His first season produced 13 goals and eight assists in 29 games, a low figure by his prolific standards, as Al-Ittihad endured a turbulent 2023/24, finishing without a trophy and fifth in the top flight, as well as seeing off incumbents Nottingham. Forest administrator Nuno Espirito Santo in November.
Former Barcelona sporting director Ramon Planes joined the nine-time champions in the same role he held at the Spanish giants in January, and former PSG coach Laurent Blanc has taken them to the top of the table since he replaced Argentine Marcelo Gallardo in July.
Despite missing three games through injury, Benzema has contributed 10 goals in 10 league games, including one in a 2-1 win over Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr in Al-Ittihad’s final game before his break. of winter.
Looking to the future with @saudi2034bid 🇸🇦🏆 pic.twitter.com/Z8ZsUDaFUr
-Karim Benzema (@Benzema) December 8, 2024
Benzema Real Madrid Statistics
A five-time Champions League winner during 14 years at Madrid, Benzema’s 354 goals for the club make him their second all-time top scorer behind former teammate Ronaldo, who scored 451.
He is said to be looking forward to living in Madrid again and taking advantage of his “excellent relationship” with the president of the current Spanish champion, Florentino Pérez.
The 2022 World Cup runner-up with France has said in interviews that he sees himself as a soccer ambassador in Saudi Arabia who can help attract more elite European soccer players to the league.
The report states that there is “no one better” than Benzema to “carry the name of Madrid for Arabia and be a selling point in a booming economic market.”
Al-Ittihad will be next in action in their King Cup quarter-final tie against reigning Saudi champions Al-Hilal, who are two points below them in the Pro League, on January 7 (17 :30 GMT).
