Newest Al-Ittihad player Benzema wants to continue at Al-Ittihad what he has been doing all these years at Real Madrid: scoring goals and winning trophies. The French striker also mentioned the presence of his old teammate Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia during his presentation.
Benzema praises fans and history of Al-Ittihad and points to the presence of Ronaldo
Ronaldo preceded Benzema last winter with a mega contract with Al-Nassr and now Benzema has also fallen for a lucrative offer from Saudi Arabia. The 35-year-old attacker signed two days after his farewell match with Real for Al-Ittihad, which presented him on Tuesday evening. Benzema stated, “I’m excited to play in a new league in a different nation. “After nearly winning the competition, Al-Ittihad has great ambitions to play a role in Asia. They have a great history and incredibly passionate fans.”
Benzema’s brilliant tenure with Real Madrid, where he won the Champions League five times and four national championships, came to an end after fourteen seasons. Benzema continued, “It feels like the right time to take on a new challenge. I experienced the warmth and affection of the people and the supporters every time I travelled to Saudi Arabia. I’m excited to get to know my new teammates and work with them to advance this fantastic club and Saudi Arabian football.”
“It’s a good league and there are a lot of good players”
The move to the Middle East doesn’t mean Benzema wants to take it easy. “I can’t wait to start training since this is the beginning of a new adventure and a new life for me. To appease the supporters, the team, and the president, I will exert every effort to win trophies, score goals, and display my skills. There are several talented players in this competition. Here, Cristiano Ronaldo is already on the pitch. He is a friend of mine and has demonstrated the development of Saudi Arabia,” he added.
Sudden farewell also surprises Benzema: “But sometimes there is a new chance”
Karim Benzema said goodbye to Real Madrid on Tuesday. To his own surprise, the French attacker conceded during the official farewell ceremony at Estadio Santiago Bernabéu. “I wanted to finish my career here, but sometimes a new opportunity comes along,” he said.
During his farewell ceremony, attended by teammates such as Thibaut Courtois and Luka Modric. Benzema could count on nice words from chairman Florentino Pérez. “Dear friends, today one of the most incredible footballers in our history leaves. Thank you, Karim, for this love story that we have already lived together and which is now eternal,” he praised.
