Ticked: Sports Events Recap Clip, 5.6 (Sports1)
Karim Benzema, the Ballon d'Or winner and one of the best players in the world, signed a three-year deal with Saudi Arabia's Al Ittihad on Tuesday. At the signing ceremony, Benzema said in Arabic that he was "excited to meet everyone in Jeddah", the city where the team plays. The Frenchman is expected to earn around €200 million per season in a contract that will keep him at the club until 2026. On Sunday, the French striker played his last game for Real Madrid, where he also scored on a penalty in a 1-1 win against Athletic Bilbao.
Benzema is already 35 years old, so he will play at least until the age of 38 in Saudi Arabia, where he will meet his former Real Madrid attacking partner, Cristiano Ronaldo, while Leo Messi may also join this league soon. Al Ittihad won the Saudi Arabian championship, ahead of Ronaldo's Al Nassr. The team is coached by Nuno Espirito Ex Wolves and its most prominent foreigners are Helder Costa and Romarinho, who scored 13 league goals.
Saudi Ballon d'Or winner: Al Ittihad introduces Benzema
Benzema thus ends a dream chapter of 14 seasons at Real Madrid, with whom he won every possible title and only a year ago led them with his own feet to the Champions League and the Spanish championship. During his 14 seasons with the club's emblem, he won 25 titles, a record for Real Madrid: 5 European Championships, 5 Club World Cups, 4 European Super Cups, 4 Championships, 3 Copa del Rey and 4 Spanish Super Cups.
Benzema ranks fifth at the club with 647 appearances, and is second in the list of goalscorers with 354 goals, Ronaldo's runner-up of course.
- sport
- World Football
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- Karim Benzema
- Real Madrid
