Karim Benzema has been officially presented as a player of Al-Ittihad in front of a massive crowd of 60,000 at the King Abdullah Sport City Stadium following his decision to leave Real Madrid for a move to the Saudi Pro League. The Frenchman is the second superstar to make the move to the Middle East after his former Real Madrid teammate, Cristiano Ronaldo. Benzema was warmly welcomed by the supporters who cheered him on as he walked onto the pitch wearing the number nine shirt. At a press conference before the unveiling, the striker spoke in French and answered questions that were translated into English. He signed a three-year contract worth £258million with Al-Ittihad, but his decision to move to Saudi Arabia was motivated by his Muslim faith rather than the financial incentives.
On Thursday afternoon, Al-Ittihad introduced Karim Benzema as their new player, with the footballer standing in the middle of the presentation.
After departing from Real Madrid, the French player has signed a contract with Al-Ittihad for a period of three years.
Benzema recently announced to his fans that he intends to play football in Saudi Arabia due to his Muslim faith. The player has always wanted to live in the country and feels comfortable being there. He hopes to bring his football skills to his new club and help them win titles. Benzema is excited about this new chapter in his life and is looking forward to advancing the club. Being a Muslim, playing in Saudi Arabia, also known as the ‘holy kingdom,’ where 90% of the population practices Islam, holds great significance for him. During the announcement, Benzema displayed his Ballon d’Or award to his fans and excitedly celebrated receiving the number nine shirt, which he previously wore during his successful stint with Real Madrid. Although leaving Real Madrid was difficult, Benzema expressed his gratitude to the club and his teammates for fulfilling his childhood dream.
Benzema proudly presented his Ballon d’Or trophy to the audience at the King Abdullah Sport City Stadium.
Following Cristiano Ronaldo’s move to the Saudi Pro League, Benzema has become the next big-name player to join the league.
A supporter in the audience lifted up one of Benzema’s old Real Madrid jerseys. “When I saw you, I knew right away that you were the man who brought Zizou and Ronaldo to the club, and now you want me on your team. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for that,” said Benzema, expressing his gratitude towards the club. Even though he is leaving Real Madrid now, he acknowledges that it is impossible to forget such a prestigious team- the best in both history and the world. While it is a sad day for him to leave, he is proud of all that he has achieved during his time there. Although he had intended to finish his career at Real Madrid, life can sometimes present unexpected opportunities, which he has decided to pursue with his family. After joining from Lyon in 2009, he won four LaLiga titles and five Champions League trophies, as well as the 2022 Ballon d’Or award.
