Al-Ittihad confirm Benzema has completed three-year Saudi deal
Karim Benzema is unveiled by Al-Ittihad after completing a £258m deal with the Saudi Pro League club following his emotional farewell at Real Madrid… as they pay homage to his trademark hand bandage
- Karim Benzema has been officially unveiled by Saudi champions Al-Ittihad
- The Frenchman has signed a three-year deal to play in the Saudi Pro League
- The forward said he is excited for a new challenge and hailed the Saudi division
Karim Benzema was officially unveiled by Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad on Tuesday night after the Middle East outfit announced the French superstar had joined on a free transfer.
The striker has signed a three-year deal worth around £258million with the Saudi champions – who announced his move by posting a picture of Benzema’s hand in his trademark bandage in Al-Ittihad colours – and he looked delighted as he held up his new shirt alongside club officials.
Benzema was allowed to leave the Bernabeu after 14 years after voiding the 12-month extension he had signed.
Speaking for the first time since his signing was announced, he told the club: ‘It’s a new challenge for me, a new life, and I can’t wait to start training.
‘I will do everything to win trophies, to score, to show my talent, to satisfy the fans, the club, the president – everyone.
Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has been officially unveiled by Saudi side Al-Ittihad
Al-Ittihad announced the news on Wednesday over social media as he signed a three-year deal
‘It’s a good league and there are many good players, Cristiano Ronaldo is already there, a friend which shows Saudi Arabia is starting to further progress its level.
‘I am here to win, like I did in Europe. I am excited to see you in Jeddah.’
Al-Ittihad announced the move on social media by saying ‘Benzema is yellow’, followed by a picture of the forward’s hand in their colours.
Earlier on Tuesday, the 35-year-old vowed he will never forget Real.
The France international scored 354 goals in 648 games and won a club-record 25 trophies during his time with the LaLiga side.
‘I’ll never forget Real Madrid because it’s impossible,’ he told a farewell press conference.
‘It’s difficult to talk. There are so many emotions. I wanted to thank Real Madrid and my team-mates. It’s been a good journey in my life.
The Frenchman left Real Madrid after 14 years having paid an emotional farewell this week
‘I was lucky enough to fulfil my childhood dream thanks to the president, who a long time ago, when I was just 21 years old, went to my house, with my parents.
‘When I saw you I said, he’s the man who brought Zizou and Ronaldo and now he wants me in his team. Thank you very much for that.
‘I’ll never forget Real Madrid because it is impossible. It’s the best club in the world and in history, that’s as good as it gets. It’s time for me to leave today and to have another story, but the most important thing for me is what I’ve won here.
‘It’s a little bit of a sad day, because I’m leaving this club and that pains me. My dream was in my head, I signed for Madrid and I wanted to finish at Madrid, but life sometimes gives you another opportunity and I’ve taken it with all my family.’
Benzema joined from Lyon in 2009 and won four LaLiga titles and five Champions League crowns. He also won the 2022 Ballon d’Or.
Real president Florentino Perez said: ‘Today is a very difficult day for me. It’s a day that brings back memories and the emotions of the last 14 years and it’s also a day of sentiment and emotions for all madridistas.
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