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'Sad day for all Madridistas' - Fans react as Karim Benzema set to leave Real Madrid after 14 years

Karim Benzema has decided to end his contract with Real Madrid at the end of the 2022-23 season after a 14-year career.

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Karim Benzema

Karim Benzema (Source: Twitter)

Karim Benzema Karim Benzema (Source: Twitter)

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema will leave the club at the end of the 2022-23 season after a 14-year career. Benzema has been heavily linked with a summer transfer move to Saudi Arabia as he was offered a €400m two-year deal, a similar deal to his former Madrid teammate Cristiano Ronaldo who joined Al Nassr.

The club confirmed on Sunday that last year's Ballon d'Or winner has decided to end his tenure with them despite having a year remaining on his contract. Benzema joined Madrid at the age of 21 in 2009 and departed as one of the legends of the club. In his fourteen seasons with the Spanish giants, he won 25 titles: 5 European Cups, 5 Club World Cups, 4 European Super Cups, 4 Leagues, 3 Copas del Rey and 4 Spanish Super Cups.

“Real Madrid CF and our captain Karim Benzema have agreed to end his brilliant and unforgettable period as a player for our club. Real Madrid wants to show its gratitude and all its affection for who is already one of our greatest legends," the Spanish club said in a statement on Sunday.

The Spanish club will give Benzema a send-off

The 35-year-old is the second-highest scorer for the club (353) in all competitions, behind Ronaldo (450). Benzema is expected to play his final match for Los Blancos on Sunday evening against Athletic Bilbao at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Real Madrid also announced that an "institutional tribute and farewell" will be held for the Frenchman next Tuesday at Real Madrid City in the presence of club president Florentino Perez.

The statement from the club read further: “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. 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. Real Madrid is and will always be his home, and he wishes him and all his family the best in this new phase of his life.

Here's how fans reacted to the news: 

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