The Ballon d’Or winner is set to terminate his Al-Ittihad contract to join rivals Al-Hilal as a replacement for Marcos Leonardo.
The saga of Karim Benzema has taken a surprising turn. Despite strong interest from Juventus and emotional links to a Lyon return, the former Real Madrid captain has reportedly rejected a move back to European football. Instead, Benzema has given his “green light” to join Saudi giants Al-Hilal.
The Termination and the PIF Decision
According to Footmercato, a meeting is scheduled to finalize Benzema’s contract termination with Al-Ittihad. Disappointed by a renewal offer that stripped away his fixed salary, the Frenchman is ready to move on.
However, the deal is not yet official. As Al-Hilal is one of the clubs owned by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), the transfer hinges on their final approval.
The Marcos Leonardo Domino Effect
The path for Benzema was cleared by the sudden departure of Marcos Leonardo. The young Brazilian striker has joined Atlético de Madrid on a loan deal with an option to buy, leaving a massive void in Al-Hilal’s attack.
While Vitor Roque remains a secondary target for the Riyadh-based club, Benzema is the priority for the board, who are racing against the February 2nd transfer deadline to secure a world-class replacement.
Benzema’s Saudi Legacy So Far
If the move goes through, Benzema leaves Al-Ittihad with an impressive record:
- Appearances: 83
- Goals: 54
- Assists: 17
- Honors: Key architect of last season’s Saudi Pro League title.
Miguel Manjate is a football journalist and editor covering the Premier League, European competitions, and transfer news, with a strong focus on match analysis and data-driven reporting.
