Daniel Imadojemu Reporting
Karim Benzema will leave Real Madrid when his contract expires this month to join Saudi Arabian club Al Ittihad, Truth Live News can confirm.
According to ESPN, Benzema was offered a two-year contract worth €400 million to transfer to Saudi Arabia in January.
Benzema has spent 14 seasons at Real Madrid, where he became the club’s second-highest goalscorer and won five Champions Leagues, four LaLiga crowns, and the Ballon d’Or in 2022.
Benzema, 35, was supposed to stay at Real Madrid for one more season until June 2024, but has instead accepted a new challenge.
Madrid are in advanced talks to sign Joselu on loan to replace Mariano Diaz but they will look for someone else to bolster the attack.
Despite an injury-hit campaign, Benzema still scored 18 goals in 23 LaLiga appearances, as well as four goals in the Champions League knockout stage.
He joined Madrid from Lyon in 2009 and will leave having won a total of 24 trophies: four LaLiga titles, five Champions Leagues, three Copas del Rey, three Spanish Supercopas, four UEFA Super Cups and five FIFA Club World Cups.
His 353 Real Madrid goals — more than club legends such as Raul Gonzalez and Alfredo di Stefano — are only surpassed by Cristiano Ronaldo, the club’s all-time record scorer, with 450.