What an absolute legend Benzema is. Karim Benzema has decided that the $400M offer from Saudi Arabia was too good to pass up as the 1-1 Real Madrid draw vs. Bilbao was the last match the goal scoring legend will ever play for this historic club.
He may very well go down as the greatest striker in Real Madrid history…and I don’t say that lightly.
Real Madrid are losing one of the greatest players in the club’s most glorious, historic history as Karim Benzema is officially hanging up European boots in favor of a $400M payday in Saudi Arabia, leaving today’s 1-1 draw against Athletic Bilbao his last match in the royal white. And, as I said, Madrid will be hard-pressed to find a better striker in the club’s past and future.
327 goals, 149 assists, 4 La Liga titles, 3 Copa Del Rey trophies, 3 Spanish Supercopa trophies, 4 UEFA Super Cup titles, 5 Champions League titles, 5 FIFA Club World Cup wins, 1 Ballon d’Or, 11 20-goal seasons, 5 30-goal seasons, 1 40-goal season, and 4th all-time on the La Liga goal scoring chart. That is what Karim Benzema has brought to Real in his 13 years with the club.
It really is remarkable how Benzema, who was widely regarded as a “bust” during the years of Cristiano Ronaldo’s glory days at the club, has transformed the minds and hearts of the Real Madrid fans, who are some of the hardest to please, by continually putting up 20+ goal seasons and winning trophies for Los Merengues.
In just 14 years with the club, Karim Benzema has won an astonishing 25 trophies for Real Madrid, which is only equaled by his legendary former teammate Marcelo in Madrid history.
Remember, this is a club that has seen Cristiano Ronaldo, Iker Casillas, Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos, Sergio Ramos, Fernando Hierro, Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham, Paco Gento, Raul, Ferenc Puskas, Alfredo Di Stefano, and Santiago Bernabéu himself all suit up for the team, yet none of them can claim to be as successful in the Royal White as Karim Benzema.
That’s legendary.
Nevertheless, I just wish Benzema could have stayed one last season at the club as next year is bound to be the end of an era with this Real Madrid side.
Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Thibault Courtois, Nacho, Dani Carvajal, Marcos Asensio, and Lucas Vazquez all have been on this team for the last 6-10 years and have seen Champions Leagues, La Liga, FIFA Club World Cups, Copa Del Reys, Spanish Supercopa, and UEFA Super Cup titles all pass through the legendary walls of the Santiago Bernabéu (talking about the stadium this time), and they all are nearing an exit with the club.
I mean, Asensio has already agreed terms for a transfer to PSG, Nacho seems like he is heading to Inter Milan, Vazquez is probably sold off as his role in the club has greatly diminished, Dani Carvajal is bound to face serious competition for his fullback spot, Modric and Kroos only have one year left on their deals, and Thibault Courtois is now 31 years old.
Not all of these players will leave in the summer transfer window, but everyone apart from Courtois is probably going to be playing for a new club come the summer of 2024. So, I just wish Benzema could have stuck around for one more season to have one last shot at the Champions League and the La Liga title with this legendary squad.
But, seeing as he’s now going to be paid anywhere from $400-$600M to play football in Saudi Arabia for the next two years, I completely understand why he’s leaving. That’s the kind of money no one should ever pass up to play a sport, and especially not one’s who is 36 years old and has already won 30+ trophies during his career for club and country.
Congratulations on this massive payday, Karim Benzema, you more than deserve it.
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