Karim Benzema will stay with Real Madrid for at least another year, assured Mark. In recent days, the 35-year-old striker has been linked to Al-Ittihad, which, according to reports from transfer market expert Fabrizio Romano, is willing to pay 400 million euros to bind Benzema for two years. The news that the Frenchman remains loyal to Real Madrid follows a few hours after he himself indicated that he was not going anywhere.
Spain’s best-selling sports newspaper assures that Benzema will still be ahead after the transfer summer the Royal plays. Contrary to reports from, among others, transfer market expert Gianluca Di Marzio, Benzema was sure, despite the astronomical offer from Saudi Arabia, that he still wants to play for the Madrilenians until at least the end of next season. Nevertheless, the Frenchman would have indicated that he was “very flattered” by the interest from the Middle East.
Earlier in the evening, Benzema was also confronted with his future during the presentation of an individual award, the Marca Leyenda Prize. “Whether I stay at Real Madrid? At the moment I am here. I still enjoy every moment, I train well and next Saturday (Sunday, against Athletic Club, ed.) We have another match. Why should I talk about the future when I’m at Real Madrid? The internet talks about my future, but the internet is not the reality,” said Benzema, who then received a loud round of applause from the press room.
Di Marzio said Benzema was expected to announce his retirement from Real Madrid at a press conference on Thursday night. Benzema has an expiring contract in Madrid, which has led to speculation about his future for some time. A transfer to Al-Ittihad would be in the offing, but both the Frenchman himself and Mark now debunks the rumours.