Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema scored on his final Real Madrid appearance, just hours after the club confirmed he would leave as a free agent at the end of the season.
After 14 trophy-laden years, Real announced the striker would be moving on after being linked with a switch to Saudi Arabian side Al Ittihad. But there was still time for a final farewell, as he scored in Real’s 1-1 draw with Athletic Bilbao at the Bernabéu.
After Thibaut Courtois saved a Mikel Vesga penalty early in the first half, Bilbao took the lead in the 49th minute through Oihan Sancet, who stabbed a tame effort at the goalkeeper before rifling in the rebound for his 10th league goal of the season.
Real levelled in the 72nd minute after Éder Militão took an elbow to the face from Yuri Berchiche in Bilbao’s penalty area, with Benzema stepping up to calmly slot home the spot-kick before receiving a standing ovation from the fans.
The 35-year-old Frenchman had looked set to stay at the Spanish club for one more year after a 2022-23 season in which he struggled with injuries and missed out on France’s World Cup campaign in Qatar due to another injury.
However, an offer estimated by media to be worth more than €100m ($107.05m) from Saudi Arabia has reportedly made him reconsider his future.
The Frenchman decided to void the one-year extension clause he had in his contract.
The French forward won 25 major trophies in his time with Real Madrid, making him the joint most-successful player in their history. “Karim Benzema’s career at Real Madrid has been an example of behaviour and professionalism, and has represented the values of our club. Karim Benzema has earned the right to decide his future,” the club said. “Madridistas and all the fans around the world have enjoyed his magical and unique football, which has made him one of the great myths of our club and one of the great legends of world football.”
The Real manager Carlo Ancelotti said: “His departure was a surprise for everyone, but you have to understand it. It was a last-minute decision. Yesterday he trained normally and today he made this decision. We understand it. I spoke to him this morning and he said that he was leaving and I understood it. He has done very well with me in these four years and also at the club. For that all my thanks.
“I am sending him off knowing that I have coached one of the best players in the world and one of the best forwards. He is a very kind, humble and serious person. We cannot be happy about his farewell, but we have to respect his decision. He has won the right to choose and we all thank him for what he has been able to do at this club. It has been legendary, something unforgettable, and it will remain forever in the memory of this club.”
Benzema could follow his former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo to the Gulf country after the Portugal forward signed a contract estimated to be worth more than €200m with Al Nassr in December.
Having joined Real in 2009 from Lyon, Benzema became the spearhead of the club’s attack and their main goal-scoring threat after Ronaldo left for Juventus in 2018. Benzema scored more than 350 goals for Real and had his best season in the 2021-22 campaign when he scored 44 times in all competitions to lead the side to a record-extending 14th European title as well as the La Liga crown. Benzema will hold a farewell press conference on Tuesday.
Another forward leaving Real Madrid this summer is Marco Asensio. The Spain international has agreed a deal to join Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain. The 27-year-old spent nine years in Madrid but has been allowed to leave on a free transfer. He will sign a four-year deal at PSG, having turned down the chance to join Aston Villa.
