Spanish girl confronts Karim Benzema during award ceremony: ‘Will you stay?’


Thursday, June 1, 2023 at 7:13 PM• Martin van Mourik

Karim Benzema denies leaving Real Madrid. Thursday night will be the peak of the Royal asked during the presentation of the Marca Leyenda prize about his future, which, according to Benzema himself, ‘just’ lies in Madrid. “The internet is talking about my departure, but the internet is not the reality,” said the 35-year-old attack leader.

Benzema was awarded an individual award by Spain’s most-read sports newspaper, Marca, on Thursday evening. The Marca Leyenda Prize was first awarded in 1997 and Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Johan Cruijff, Michael Jordan and Muhammad Ali, among others, previously won the medal. After the presentation of the prize, which he receives for being considered one of the best professionals in sports history, there is room for a few children to ask questions. The girl Clara does not hesitate for a moment and seizes the opportunity to ask Benzema about his future.

“Are you staying with Real Madrid?” Clara wonders. “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.” The presenter of the newspaper then responds to the question and hopes to get more information from the striker about his future. “The rumours? 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.

Earlier on Thursday, transfer market expert Gianluca Di Marzio, among others, reported that Benzema is expected to announce his departure from Real Madrid during a press conference on Thursday evening. Benzema had an expiring contract in Madrid, so speculation about his future had been going on for some time. A transfer to Al-Ittihad is said to be in the offing, but the Frenchman now seems to have dispelled the rumours.