Saudi Arabian football clubs have the next big name on their list as they vie for the best players in the world. According to consistent media reports, champion Al-Ittihad Club (Jeddah) Karim Benzema has presented an offer worth millions. The 35-year-old Frenchman has taken note and informed his club Real Madrid that he wants to think about his future by the end of the week, reports Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.
According to Spanish media reports, the offer consists of a two-year deal that would net Benzema a total of €400m. In addition, the attacker could expect further income after his career ends if he acts as an ambassador for the 2030 World Cup. The clubs from the Gulf state have already lured Cristiano Ronaldo with similar advantages and have been courting Lionel Messi for months. For comparison: the Argentine was offered 500 to 600 million euros for two or three years, the Portuguese currently earns around 200 million euros per season.
Fati slips: LaLiga’s most valuable players
26 Ansu Fati | Barcelona | Market value: €35 million
Benzema, who has 30 goals and six assists in 42 appearances at Real this season, is only tied with the “Whites” until this summer. The “AS” reported in April that the contract had been extended to 2024 due to the “Ballon d’Or clause”, but according to other media this is only an option – nothing has been signed yet.
The fact that top performers leave Real for free is a rarity in recent club history. The most valuable departure for free is James Rodríguez, who was allowed to move to Everton in 2020 and was only used sporadically before that. Despite his age, Benzema would top the list of most valuable free transfers with €35m.
In the personnel planning for the coming season, the captain played a major role until the very end. It was only on Tuesday that there were reports that former Bundesliga striker Joselu was to come to Madrid as a clear back-up for Benzema.
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.
