Karim Benzema is set to renew his contract with Real Madrid for another season until 2024.
The French striker’s deal at Madrid expires on June 30, but various sources at the club and others who are close to Benzema have told The Athletic he will stay at the Santiago Bernabeu for another season.
Benzema has been Real’s main star since Cristiano Ronaldo left for Juventus in 2018, while his relationship with the board could not be better. The 35-year-old is Real’s second-highest scorer of all-time with 341 goals in 632 appearances, behind only Ronaldo who has 450 goals in 438 games.
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Some reports in Spain from October claimed that Benzema’s contract had automatically been renewed after the striker won the Ballon d’Or for his role in Madrid’s La Liga-Champions League double last season. But various sources from within Madrid denied that suggestion to The Athletic.
Members of the board have always privately maintained there are seven Real players whose contracts expire this June: Benzema, Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Dani Ceballos, Marco Asensio, Nacho Fernandez and Mariano Diaz.
Benzema fuelled rumours of a potential exit ahead of the Supercopa de Espana final in January when he said: “I am at Real Madrid. Talking about renewal is another matter. I enjoy it, like any other player who can play for Madrid. What happens in football, we don’t know.”
Various sources close to Madrid’s dressing room said that Benzema had expressed some doubts about renewing, although this has always been denied by the striker’s entourage.
Last month, Spanish newspaper El Mundo reported that the state of Saudi Arabia was preparing a move to bring Benzema, Modric and their former Real team-mate Sergio Ramos to its domestic league after Ronaldo signed for Al Nassr in December.
While the offer was reported to be worth €60million net for two seasons, those close to Benzema say he never entertained that possibility.
Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti was firm on Benzema’s future when asked about the possibility of signing a striker for next season before February’s Club World Cup final.
“It will be discussed later,” Ancelotti said. “We have to take into account Benzema’s age, but also what he brings. He is our nine. He did well at the beginning of the season and he will do well next season.”
Ancelotti was asked about the subject again before Real’s 3-1 win against Espanyol on Saturday.
“For me, Karim is a lifelong Real Madrid player,” he said. “I’m clear about what will happen next year, but I’m not a magician.”
Benzema scored a career-best 44 goals in 46 appearances in all competitions last season but has struggled at times this campaign, with 18 goals in 27 games. He has been hampered by injury and has already missed more games this season than last (14 compared to 11 last season).
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He also appeared to announce his retirement from France duty after missing the World Cup through injury, having scored 37 goals in 97 games for his national team.
But Ancelotti and his coaching staff say the striker’s motivation and dedication is beyond reproach. They argue he can do little more in terms of looking after himself, even if the human body has its limits.
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Last weekend, sources from the club and within the dressing room said that Benzema would stay at Madrid, with one saying they “guaranteed” he would be there for a further year and another insisting “he has one more year”.
Before Real’s Champions League last-16 second leg against Liverpool on Wednesday, French newspaper L’Equipe reported that Perez and Benzema had verbally agreed an extension.
When asked about that report, several sources close to Benzema said that the renewal could be taken for granted and that the details would become clear when an official announcement was made.
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(Photo: Getty Images)