In a surprising turn of events, Karim Benzema, the 35-year-old football star, has decided to stay with Real Madrid. This decision comes after initial reports suggested that Benzema was considering a lucrative offer from Saudi Arabia’s Pro League.
The Saudi Arabia Offer
Benzema was reportedly offered a two-year deal by the new champions Al-Ittihad, a deal that would have been worth €200m. This offer came after Benzema had initially agreed to fresh terms on a new one-year deal with Real Madrid back in March.
The U-Turn
Benzema had conveyed his decision to leave to Real Madrid’s president, Florentino Perez, in a meeting. Perez made it clear that they wanted him to stay, but at that point, Benzema had decided to end his 14-year career with Madrid.
However, sources have now revealed that further meetings have been held, during which Benzema decided he would indeed stay for another season at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Impact on Real Madrid’s Plans
While Real Madrid was shocked and had not planned for Benzema’s departure, their transfer team, headed by Juni Calafat, was already working on potential replacements. The top name on their list was Harry Kane.
However, Benzema’s decision to stay means Real Madrid can now focus on other areas of their squad, which includes finalising a deal for England star Jude Bellingham.
