Karim Benzema ‘tells Real Madrid he wants to leave’ with sensational £86m-a-year deal on offer from Saudi Arabia
KARIM BENZEMA has told Real Madrid that he wants to leave the club, according to reports.
The French striker is believed to have been offered a massive deal to move to the Saudi Arabian outfit Al Ittihad.
The Saudis are ready to hand Benzema, 35, a mammoth £86million-a-year contract to leave the LaLiga side.
The offer also includes additional fees for being an ambassador for the country's bid to host the 2030 World Cup as well as a residence in a private neighbourhood.
And it appears the temptation has proved too much for the striker and he has told Madrid that he wants to leave, as per .
While Al Ittihad does not boast a superstar, it does have players such as former Leeds and Wolves star Helder Costa and West Brom defender Ahmed Hegazi among their ranks.
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And the club did manage to beat Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr to the Saudi Pro League title this season by five points.
Benzema has enjoyed a trophy-laden 14-year stay in the Spanish capital, winning 24 major honours in that time.
His most recent contract extension expires at the end of June, although Benzema is said to have agreed on a new deal with Madrid.
This deal was supposed to see him stay at the club for the 2023-24 season, although it is unclear whether he has inked the final details of his new contract.
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If he has not put pen to paper, then Benzema will be free to make the move to the Middle East at the expiry of his contract.
However, if he has signed the contract, then a fee will need to be agreed upon for Madrid to sanction the transfer.
Ronaldo signed a similar deal when he joined Al-Nassr, meanwhile, Lionel Messi has also reportedly been approached in recent weeks about moving to the Middle Eastern state.
It is thought that Real Madrid are confident that Benzema will remain at the Santiago Bernabeu for another season.