Real Madrid have confirmed that French striker Karim Benzema will depart the club at the end of the season as well as Belgian forward Eden Hazard who will be effectively released on June 30 too.

Benzema has spent fourteen years at Santiago Bernabeu after joining from Lyon in 2009 and managed to win five UEFA Champions League titles and also scooped the Ballon d’Or award last year.

The 35-year-old, who won La Liga four times, will join Saudi Arabia side Al Ittihad on a free transfer and sign a two-year bumper deal with Ittihad. Real Madrid revealed Benzema’s exit on Sunday via a statement.

“Benzema has been an example of behavior and professionalism and has represented the values of our club. He has earned the right to decide his future. Real Madrid is and always will be his home, and we wish him and all his family all the best in this new stage of his life. Next Tuesday, June 6, at 12:00 pm (CEST), an institutional act of homage and farewell to Karim Benzema will take place at Real Madrid Sport City, which will be attended by our president, Florentino Pérez.” Madrid said in a statement on Sunday.

Benzema has won 25 titles, a record number for any Real Madrid player, with 5 European Cups, 5 Club World Cups, 4 European Super Cups, 4 Leagues, 3 King’s Cups, and 4 Spanish Super Cups. 

Meanwhile, Eden Hazard will leave Real Madrid after the season with a year left on his contract and will consider retirement. Hazard did not play a single minute of an El Clásico despite signing for Real Madrid in 2019.

The Belgian moved to Real Madrid in 2019 from Delaware for a then-$236M fee playing 76 matches, scoring seven goals and 12 Assists, and winning 8 trophies despite missing 78 games due to injury.

Daniel Ademiju Idowu