Karim Benzema made history at Real Madrid, overcoming criticism to become the club’s second all-time leading scorer with 354 goals. After Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure, he took over as the team’s offensive leader. He consistently scored over 20 goals per season, proving his value. His impressive performance earned him the Ballon d’Or. Despite his success, he made the surprising decision to leave the Real Madrid in 2023. Now, after several years, Benzema has finally broken his silence. He explained the reasons behind his departure.
Karim Benzema’s legacy at Real Madrid is defined by perseverance, triumph, and deep respect for the club. Speaking on Los Amigos de Edu, the French striker reflected on his departure. “It was a moment when I had to say I want to stay at the top, top level of Madrid, captain, etc… You don’t know what is going to happen next year,” stated Benzema.
Karim Benzema carefully considered his next move before leaving Real Madrid: “It was always a little bit in my head. The day I win everything with Madrid, I think I’m going to say that’s it and go to another club that can’t play against Madrid again,” he explained. His loyalty to the club’s legacy was clear. He emphasized his decision to avoid clubs like PSG or Manchester City.
Nevertheless, Karim Benzema’s journey in Madrid was not without challenges. He acknowledged the difficult start to his career in Spain. “In Madrid I started a bit difficult. It was very complicated for me, but I never gave up and thanks also to Florentino Perez, who was always on my side,” added Benzema. Over time, he evolved from a promising but inconsistent forward into a club legend. He won every possible title with Real Madrid, cementing his place in history.
Karim Benzema reveals his post-retirement plans after professional soccer
Karim Benzema still has two years remaining on his contract with Al-Ittihad and continues to perform at a high level. He has already scored 16 goals in the Saudi Pro League, making him the tournament’s second-leading scorer behind Cristiano Ronaldo.
Despite his success, Benzema is already thinking about his post-retirement plans. One thing is certain: he has no interest in becoming a coach. “It seems more complicated than playing. You have to talk to 20-25 guys, you have to choose one or the other.”
However, Karim Benzema is certain that he wants to remain involved in soccer after retirement. He has expressed a desire to stay close to Florentino Perez and even maintain ties with Real Madrid. He did not specify whether he envisions a role as a club president, executive or any rol.