It is official! After parting ways with Real Madrid, Karim Benzema has signed a two-year deal with Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad. The striker has signed the deal until 2026 with an option to further extend. The move to Al-Ittihad means that Benzema will face his former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, who plays for rivals Al Nassr, in the Saudi Pro League.
Al-Ittihad, who won the Saudi Pro League this month, took to social media to announce the arrival of their marquee player.
Earlier this week, Real Madrid announced the departure of Benzema after his 14-year tenure in La Liga. The Frenchman joined the Los Blancos in 2009 from Lyon and achieved remarkable success. The striker won a record 25 trophies with the club, including four La Liga titles and five UEFA Champions League titles.
His performance peaked during the 2021-22 season, resulting in him receiving the prestigious UEFA Men’s Player of the Year award for that campaign and winning the 2022 Ballon d’Or. With 350 goals, he stands as the second-highest scorer in Real Madrid’s history.
Al-Ittihad targets another star player
According to reports, Al Ittihad is close to signing Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante, whose contract is set to expire at the end of this month. Kante has reportedly reached an agreement in principle with the Saudi giants to play in the middle east.
After a brilliant 2021-22, Kante struggled with fitness issues this season, featuring in just nine games for the Blues in all competitions. The veteran midfielder has made 269 appearances for the Premier League side, scoring 13 goals and providing 16 assists. He has won the Premier League, the Europa League, the FA Cup, and the Champions League with the Blues.
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