He triumphed at Madrid, went to Arabia and is now considering retiring at the end of this season

Talking about Karim Benzema undoubtedly recalls one of the best forwards in the history of Real Madrid; at least that's what his numbers indicate: 354 goals (2nd top scorer in the history of the Merengue team) and 165 assists (2nd top assister in the history of the White team) in 648 appearances. An asset that seemed to still have a lot of football to display in Europe; however, in 2023, he opted for what many call a 'golden retirement', by accepting a lucrative contract with Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia.

In the Middle East, after a slow and somewhat tumultuous start, including some controversies, Karim Benzema has fully settled in the Arab team and is starting to deliver everything expected of him, accumulating so far in the 2024-25 season ten goals and three assists in ten matches, placing himself as the second top scorer in the race for the 'Pichichi' in the Saudi Pro League, just behind Aleksandar Mitrović (12).

Benzema is reportedly seeing his retirement as a professional player closer

However, just as he is displaying his best football in Saudi Arabia, ironically, the end of Karim Benzema's sports career might be approaching. According to 'Relevo', despite his stellar level in Arab lands, at 36 years old, the 'Cat' is reportedly considering 'hanging up his boots', possibly at the end of the current 2024-25 season, despite having a contract with Al-Ittihad until June 30, 2026.

Furthermore, the cited source suggests that although Benzema has not made a definitive decision, there are factors that could be motivating him to contemplate retirement, such as the fatigue derived from the demanding daily routine of being a high-level footballer, which affects both physically and mentally.

Karim's future beyond the game... Linked to Real Madrid?

At this moment, seemingly, Al-Ittihad, despite representing the farewell of their star player, also does not seem averse to letting him go. Why? On one hand, they would be saving his high salary (100 million euros gross), and on the other hand, Benzema would continue to be linked to the club and the league, albeit with a lower salary and appearing only as a figure occasionally.

Following this line of thought, the French 'killer' would already have his future assured beyond football, and what better place to develop it than in an environment completely familiar to him, such as Real Madrid? As 'Relevo' also revealed, the former Lyon player has already agreed with the white club to be their ambassador worldwide, especially in the Arab region. Therefore, it is intriguing to think that with all these elements aligned, the retirement of Karim Benzema could be becoming more and more a reality.