Real Madrid superstar Karim Benzema has revealed that he intends to retire at the Spanish club, insisting there is no other option.
Benzema has been playing for Real Madrid since joining Los Blancos in the summer of 2009. Since then, the Frenchman has made 615 appearances for Real Madrid and has scored 328 goals for the Spanish side.
Benzema was named the 2022 Ballon d’Or winner earlier this week after his sensational performances for Real Madrid in the 21/22 season.
The now 34-year-old racked up 44 goals for Real Madrid in all competitions last season as they won the La Liga and Champions League titles.
Karim Benzema reveals that he wants to retire at Real Madrid
Speaking after winning the Ballon d’Or, Benzema was asked about his future plans. He made it clear that he wants to spend the rest of his career at Real Madrid and hangs up his boots at the Spanish side.
“I am going to retire at Real Madrid, there is no other option,” Benzema told Ondo Cero.
Benzema took over the role of Real Madrid’s leading goalscorer after Cristiano Ronaldo left the club in the summer of 2018. Ronaldo parted ways with Real Madrid after nine glorious years during which he became the club’s all-time leading goalscorer. .
Benzema improved his game after Ronaldo’s departure, and the Frenchman has now revealed that the ‘ambition to be more’ got into his head after the Portuguese’s departure.
He also said that it was an honor to play with Ronaldo, whom he described as a ‘beast’. “It was an honor to play with him, he is a beast. The day he left, the ambition to be more entered my head.”
For his part, Benzema has played 10 games with Real Madrid so far in the 22/23 season. The French international has scored five goals in those games, the last in El Clásico.
Real Madrid hosted Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabéu in their last league game and secured a 3-1 victory in that game. It was Benzema who scored Real Madrid’s goal, breaking the tie in the 12th minute of the game.
Benzema placed the ball in the back of the net after Marc-Andre Ter Stegen saved Vinicius Jr.’s shot.
Meanwhile, Benzema’s current contract at Real Madrid expires next year but is expected to be renewed.
