Karim Benzema officially joins Al Ittihad
There is exciting news today, of course about "Karim Benzema officially joins Al Ittihad". Karim Benzema has officially joined Al Ittihad on a two-year deal until 2026.
Karim Benzema will get a net salary of Rp 3.2 trillion per season. Official and confirmed, Karim Benzema joins Al Ittihad on a two-year contract with an option for a further season at Al Ittihad.
Karim Benzema will earn a net salary of almost €200 million per season, including commercial deals.
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Karim Benzema joins Saudi club Al-Ittihad (Picture: Ittihad/Twitter) |
"Al Ittihad is a new challenge for me. A good league and a lot of good players," Karim Benzema said.
"Cristiano Ronaldo is already here, he is a friend who shows that Saudi Arabia is starting to progress and I am here to win like I did in Europe," Benzema said.
Parting ways with Real Madrid
Karim Benzema bid farewell to Real Madrid at the farewell ceremony. This past week, it was confirmed that Real Madrid captain and club legend Karim Benzema will soon leave the club.
Karim Benzema's 35-year-old striker's contract is due to expire on June 30, but a renewal until 2024 is believed to have been made after he won the Ballon d'Or last year.
"Real Madrid will always be a family to me," Karim Benzema said in his farewell speech to Real Madrid.
However, a tempting offer from Saudi Arabia was too tempting for the French forward, who decided to part ways with Real Madrid in exchange for an adventure in the Middle East.
Given his status at the club, Real Madrid held a special farewell ceremony for Benzema this Tuesday (6/6/2023).
Also read: Benzema is Looking Forward to The Birth Of A Child From A Girlfriend and Waiting For A New Club Loan.
The event was attended by several of his teammates, manager Carlo Ancelotti, president Florentino Perez and club legends such as Roberto Carlos. During the event, Benzema spoke to those in attendance and spoke about his love for Real Madrid.
He stated that he is what he is today because of the club while calling the Merengues the greatest team.
"Hello everyone. It's hard to talk now. I want to thank everyone," Benzema told Madrid Universal.
"Thank you Presi for bringing me here. I will never forget it. Real Madrid is the biggest. But now it's time to go," he said.
"This is a sad day. I left my club".
"I always said I would retire here but things don't always happen. I will always watch Real Madrid games and support the team."
"I became who I am because of this club, thank you very much," Benzema added.
He further underlined his feelings towards the club, the Frenchman stating that Real Madrid will always be his family.
"Real Madrid will always be my family. Many thanks to the president. I have been able to realize my dream. I will never forget Real Madrid because this is the best club in the world and history.
Benzema ended with these words: "As I said on the first day, 1, 2, 3... Hala Madrid!"
That's the same sentence Karim Benzema said when joining and parting ways with Real Madrid.
Like a mantra, the phrase was repronounced by Karim Benzema at the farewell.
Real Madrid held a farewell ceremony with Karim Benzema on Tuesday (6/6/2023) to say goodbye to their star player.
"And, as I said on the first day I arrived here, I'll say it again: 1, 2, 3... Hala Madrid," Benzema said.
Move to Al-Ittihad
Real Madrid's Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema has signed a contract with Al-Ittihad Saudi Arabia for three years starting next season.
Karim Benzema's announcement comes days after Real Madrid announced that the 35-year-old was leaving the club after 14 seasons. "It hurts... it's not easy, I want to retire here, but sometimes the direction changes," Karim Benzema said.
"I will always watch Madrid games and I will always support Real Madrid, the best club in the world," he said. "It's hard to speak. Many thanks to Real Madrid. To my teammates. Under pressure, I was able to realize my dream. I will never forget Real Madrid because this is the best club in the world and history."
"Real Madrid will always be my family and I will always watch Real Madrid games"
"And, as I said on the first day I arrived here, I'll say it again: 1, 2, 3... Hala Madrid," Benzema said.
Karim's salary at Al Ittihad is 200 million euros. Karim Benzema has officially joined a club from Saudi Arabia, Al Ittihad.
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Karim Benzema's contract at Al Ittihad will run until June 2025 with an option for a further season. Karim Benzema's salary could reach €200 million with several commercial offers included.
The contract has been signed by Karim Benzema, and there will be a club statement soon.
Benzema held a meeting yesterday to finalize his move to Al-Ittihad with Anmar Al-Haili and Ahmed Kaaki, the club's president and vice president.
He arrived at the Four Seasons Hotel at 5:07 p.m.
Karim Benzema is the only striker to win the Ballon d'Or in the era of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Karim Benzema has signed most of the paperwork to become a new Al Ittihad player to join the Saudi league.
Understand the contract will be valid until 2025 but will also include options for further seasons.
Karim will say goodbye to Madrid fans and then travel to Saudi Arabia.
According to sources close to the club, Karim Benzema joined Saudi Arabia's Al-Ittihad.
Real Madrid Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema has signed a contract with Saudi Arabia's Al-Ittihad for three years starting next season.
The information was revealed by a source at the Jeddah-based club to AFP on Tuesday.
The announcement comes days after Real Madrid announced that the 35-year-old was leaving the club after 14 seasons.
A day after coach Carlo Ancelotti said there was "no doubt" Benzema's future was no longer at Madrid.
"Benzema has signed his transfer contract to Al-Ittihad for three years starting next season," a Saudi club source said.
If his move is confirmed, Benzema would join former Real Madrid team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia. After Ronaldo, the five-time world player of the year moved to Al Nassr from Manchester United after last year's World Cup.
Lionel Messi, who left Paris Saint-Germain after two seasons, has also been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia. Senior officials from another Saudi Arabian club, Al Hilal, have flown to France to try and seal a deal for Messi after the 35-year-old Argentine.
Messi had played his last game for PSG at the weekend, two sources familiar with the matter told AFP. on Sunday.
The Saudi delegation plans to meet Messi's father and agent, Jorge, to finalize the signing as soon as possible. Benzema joined Madrid in 2009 from Ligue 1 side Lyon.
He made 648 appearances for Real Madrid and is second on Real's all-time goalscorers list with 354 – only Ronaldo has more.
He has lifted five Champions League trophies, four La Liga titles, and three Copa del Rey with Madrid. But after a superb 2021-22 season when he led Real to Champions League glory and was awarded the Ballon d'Or, he was plagued by injuries.
Benzema had to miss France's World Cup campaign in Qatar last year with a thigh problem.
Saudi Arabia eyes world's Top 10 players
Saudi Arabia has compiled a list of more than 10 players who have won the Champions League or World Cup who will be lured into playing in Saudi Arabia's league.
A source close to the negotiations said Saudi Arabia wanted to target more than 10 of the world's top players.
That list includes Real Madrid's Croatian midfielder Luka Modric, Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and France's teammate N'Golo Kante.
All of them are at the end of their careers. Saudi Arabia has ambitions to host the World Cup in 2030 or 2034.
Luka Modric and Hugo Lloris are on Saudi Arabia's list of "more than 10" football transfer targets.
The targets were Lionel Messi and Karim Benzema, sources close to the negotiations told AFP.
Sergio Ramos, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, N'Golo Kante, Angel Di Maria, and Roberto Firmino are also included.
They are among the World Cup and Champions League winners championed for the Saudi Pro League, the source said.
The latest information comes as Saudi officials are in Paris and Madrid to try to finalize deals with Messi and Benzema.
According to sources and reports, that would allow them to join Cristiano Ronaldo in the oil-rich kingdom.
Saudi authorities have been in contact with more than 10 players.
"Many of them won the World Cup or the Champions League, to join the Saudi league next season," said a source close to the negotiations.
In addition to Messi, "the list includes Benzema, Ramos, Di Maria, Modric, Hugo Loris, Kante, Firmino, Alba and Busquets".
"In addition to receiving quite tempting offers, they will play in a very competitive league," the source added.
The Saudis aim to "seal most of the deals" before the new season starts on August 11.
Separately, a Saudi government official told AFP that authorities were holding negotiations with "world-class players".
"The aim is to build a very strong and competitive league and raise the level of Saudi clubs," the official said.
All the players listed are major stars at the end of their careers. In addition to French goalkeeper Lloris, who has one year left at Spurs, all are out of contract this month.
Saudi Arabia, under its 37-year-old de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, is trying to improve its image by attracting tourists and investment, in part through sports.
The world's biggest oil exporter has shelled out hundreds of millions on sports deals including the signing of Ronaldo, Formula One, and the Golf tour.
List of Top 10 Players Targeted by Saudi Arabia:
- Lionel Messi
- Karim Benzema
- Luka Modric
- Hugo Lloris
- Ngolo Kante
- Sergio Ramos
- Jordi Alba
- Sergio Busquets
- Angel Di Maria
- Roberto Firmino
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