Karim Benzema has reportedly informed the Real Madrid of his intentions to leave on a free transfer this summer to complete a move to Al-Ittihad.
According to journalist Santi Aouna, the Frenchman spoke to Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti on Wednesday and informed him of his wish to leave the club this summer.
Aouna claims that Los Blancos have not given up hope of convincing the striker to stay, but he now appears to be closing in on a switch to Saudi Arabia.
The 35-year-old has had his injury problems during the 2022-23 campaign but has still had a productive season, finding the back of the net on 30 occasions in 42 appearances, in addition to contributing six assists.
The journalist reports that Al-Ittihad first registered their interest ‘more than a month ago’, but Benzema was not prepared to make any serious decisions on his future until after the season had finished.
The size of the wages on offer at the Saudi Arabian club are believed to have played a leading role in convincing the striker to turn his back on Real Madrid at this stage of his career.
Read Also: Jurgen Klinsmann Reveals Three Key Inter Milan Players And Man City Week Area
A departure for the Frenchman would change Real Madrid‘s plans for the summer window, as it would leave them needing to bring in at least one but likely two new players in the final third of the field.
Mariano Diaz and Marco Asensio are also said to be preparing to leave on free transfers,
and Real Madrid‘s leading targets in the final third of the field – Manchester City‘s Erling Braut Haaland and Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe – will not be available until at least the summer of 2024.
Espanyol’s Joselu is currently being heavily linked with a move to Bernabeu, and there have been claims that he could return to the club on loan for the 2023-24 campaign.
Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane is also said to be a leading target, and the England captain, who is also being heavily linked with Manchester United, could be on the move during this summer’s transfer window.
Benzema arrived at Bernabeu from Lyon in the summer of 2009, and he has represented the Spanish giants on 647 occasions, scoring 353 goals and registering 165 assists in the process.
