After a week of great uncertainty, Karim Benzema (35 years old) has officially left Real Madrid. The club announced on Sunday morning that the French forward is departing the team after 14 seasons. His likely destination is Saudi Arabia, where he has received a lucrative offer from the Saudi league. The announcement came less than seven hours before the team’s final match of the season against Athletic at the Bernabeu (18:30, Movistar), where he will bid farewell to the fans.
Confusion had surrounded the French player in recent days. On Thursday at noon, his departure from Castellana was considered imminent. Club officials admitted that the attacker had received an overwhelming economic proposal; however, things suddenly halted. Madrid claimed that Benzema had one more year on his contract (having renewed it after winning the Ballon d’Or), and that same afternoon, the Frenchman fueled doubts during an event with Marca. He did not settle the matter with a definitive “I’m staying,” but said, “Reality is not the internet.” His statements caused a vacuum of information, leading to confusion.
The last public words on his case came from Carlo Ancelotti, who on Saturday, during the pre-match press conference against Athletic, first seemed vague and then pointed out, “He has a year left on his contract, so we have no doubts here.” Twelve hours later, the intrigue ended with the announcement of Benzema’s departure, as the club granted his release.
His departure causes a significant upheaval in Real Madrid’s attack, which now must enter the market in search of a starting forward when they did not expect to. Their plan was to sign a backup to accompany Benzema, but this unexpected farewell disrupts all sporting plans. On Saturday, the end of Marco Asensio’s tenure was also announced, as he was the first offensive substitute. The two players scored 42 goals this season: 30 by Benzema and 12 by Asensio. Joselu Mato’s arrival from Espanyol is expected as a supplement, but the void is enormous, and Madrid needs a bigger catch. Currently, they only have Rodrygo and Vinicius for the entire attack. On the other hand, the departures of Benzema (12 million net), Asensio (around six), Hazard (part of his annual salary saved with the exit agreement), and Mariano (4.5) free up a sizable portion of the wage bill.
Benzema’s farewell concludes a very turbulent and frustrating season for the striker. Exactly a year ago, he lifted the league and Champions League titles with Madrid, became the favorite for the Ballon d’Or (which he later won), and was heading towards the World Cup, his last major aspiration in football after being expelled from the French national team for five years. However, his career took a turn for the worse after the summer vacation. First, with a one-month injury in September and, above all, a physical issue (“muscle fatigue,” according to Madrid) that sidelined him the month before the Qatar event. When he landed in Doha, everything quickly blew up in his face. A medical report from the French team (“quad injury in the left thigh”) before the debut led to his abrupt departure from the concentration camp during the night and taking the first regular flight in the morning to Madrid just hours after learning of his injury. That exit, with conflicting versions between him and Didier Deschamps, and his definitive goodbye to Les Bleus added more bitterness to an already challenging personal campaign.
More Goals Than Football
“We are sure he will return to last season’s level,” Ancelotti insisted before and after the World Cup. However, his performance in 2023 barely picked up on some afternoons. Enough to reach 30 goals this season with Madrid (a figure only surpassed in three of his 14 campaigns), but within a weaker overall performance compared to previous seasons when he took a big leap after Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure.
In recent matches, a less influential Benzema was seen on the field and evasive off it. He declined to speak even when he scored three hat-tricks in April and, as captain, did not formally appear after winning the Copa del Rey or following the 4-0 defeat against City in the Champions League semifinals. That tie and the Cup final once again displayed his flatter version on the field. Off the pitch, his already special character had sharpened. On Tuesday, at 12:00, he will face the microphone alongside Florentino Perez at his farewell event, six months after his last press conference.
Until this season’s slowdown, Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure in 2018 revealed a previously unknown Karim, much more punctual with goals and without losing the influence in associative play that always characterized him. Highly criticized for almost a decade by a portion of the Bernabeu demanding more scoring accuracy, he began anew phase of his career in which he silenced many critics. Benzema was decisive in Zidane’s second stage and the subsequent season, in which he was Madrid’s top scorer with 30 and 29 goals, respectively, in all competitions.
His departure from Real Madrid marks the end of an era for the club. During his 14 seasons in the Spanish capital, Benzema won numerous titles, including four Champions League trophies and three La Liga titles. He scored over 300 goals for the club and provided countless assists, becoming one of the most important players in Madrid’s recent history. The club and its fans will undoubtedly miss his presence and goalscoring prowess on the field.
As Benzema moves on to a new challenge in Saudi Arabia, Real Madrid will have to work tirelessly to find a suitable replacement for their star forward. The summer transfer window will be crucial for the club as they look to rebuild and adapt to life without their talisman. And while it will be no easy task to replace someone with Benzema’s quality and experience, Madrid’s rich history of attracting top talent will undoubtedly help in their pursuit of a new forward.
In the meantime, Karim Benzema can look back on his time at Real Madrid with pride, knowing that he has left an indelible mark on the club’s history. As he embarks on the next chapter of his career in Saudi Arabia, he will undoubtedly continue to showcase his skills and score goals, adding to his already impressive legacy in the world of football.
