How You Like Me Now? - The Karim Benzema Thread

Not worth replying to this post but still. So easy to drop the racism accusation nowadays. You need zero evidence or substantiation, enough to just dislike someone. Good job buddy

 

If it is true then thank you Benzema for giving me the biggest dilemma of which is better ie the 3 peat or the run we had last season?

Loyal servant to the club and you deserve the best sending off.

If you stay then great otherwise see you later at the club in a different capacity.

 

Based on everything you’ve said thus far Ont his topic, you clearly have an issue with him going there and not an issue with the fact he is leaving. Racism or not, you’ve written enough for us to think that you’re biased towards the country.

That kind of money is more than he has got his entire career for 2 seasons and you want him to forego that and to stay one more season where he has everything to lose and none to win on a personal level? Fans already started criticizing him this season and I bet he feels it is the right time to leave.

Anyways, he has amortized his purchasing price years and years ago. A living legend for this club, I have nothing but respect and love for him after what he has achieved during these 13 years with the club.

From a sporting view, we have been unable to plan with him around. His aura made it impossible to recruit someone that would come here to take his spot. We all were asking for more power in the attack and we will get some with him going away.

 

Wow all reports are indicating he has decided to leave.

I don't blame him at all because thats some life-changing generational money he is being offered.

Like someone else mentioned, he is leaving with his head held high. I hope the club has a massive send-off for him. He has truly cemented his name and legacy at Real Madrid.

 

Lose effing what. He already has generational money. Whats it going to I dont care which country is paying those stupid amounts. Its about him going for money and not potential adding to his legacy - if we manage to reinforce this team properly and win another La Liga or two against this Barca. With another elite striker to rotate and partner, next season he could still easily score 15+ in the league and a few classic CL Karim performances coming in fresh.

I just think that for a rich footballer to get even richer shouldnt be the ultimate objective. Money should factor of course, but at some point its a diminishing return when there are other prospects with more meaning for your success in your chosen field. There is context for every case; I was not as upset with Casemiro going for the bag last summer because it was still ManU and competitive football at the highest level. Karim is the reigning Balon Dor and our captain ffs.

But sure, Im a racist. btw if that offer is there now it will be there next season too. Especially if theres silverware.

 

Not necessarily.

Top tier clubs were given a budget by the Ministry of Sports via the Public Investment Fund to sign one elite player this summer. Local reports suggest that this is a one off thing applying to this transfer window.

Al-Nasr cannot sign another star because they Cristiano. Al-Hilal won't be able to get Benzema because they want Messi and several of his peeps. Then there is the quota of foreign players in Saudi clubs.

If Benzema passes on Al-Ittihad's offer, they might opt for another star and they + other top Saudi clubs won't be able to accommodate him next summer.

I also think Karim prefers going to Jeddah vs Riyadh, perhaps due to the proximity to Mecca.

 

I know that the oil industry damage the environmental. Unless you are a die hard environmentalist.... I meant that you are an extreme tree hugger who live away from any form of modern life. Oil money is not dirty. I worked with many environmentalists including the Green Peace. They don't treat the oil industries as evil as you portrayed them. Yes, they fight against them, but they understand that it is part of life.

As for Benzema, he is a Muslim. It is a honorable thing for him to play in the home land of the Prophet. Of course, he will get paid more than anywhere else by being there. But if you are Saudi Arabia, that is the only way for them to rise the profile of their league. If you are running a club outside of England, Spain or perhaps, Germany, you are expected to pay more to lure the better players. The truth is that Saudi Arabia is a less attractive place than even Qatar or the UAE due to religious restrictions. The acceptance of ones' religious customs is being respectful and that of a liberal thinker. It is actually something that I can understand. And they happen to have plenty of money. I think MLS would have done the same if the clubs have more money and without salary cap. Of course, Miami is a more attractive place than Riyadh. What would you do if you are running the Saudi league? Let's not spend money and remain the doormat of world football.

 

I don't see any issue with all this.
Benz gave most of sports life to the club and gave it all.
If he can go and cash in now, good for him.

 

I agree with a lot of your points.

But look at it a different way or rather see the whole picture.

1. He gets to move to a Muslim country. Religion is important to him.
2. Make tons of money.
3. Can relax away from the grind of European football. Much less traveling and games per week.
4. Closer to his origins/family.

He owes us nothing and we owe him nothing; he's free.

 

apart from religion, Ronaldo made the move for similar reasons and yet he was lambasted by you all here.

 

Figo said that he joined us not because of greed. The amount offered by Perez was about respect. He was probably lying, but I understand his point. It was a vindication of how much Perez respected him as a player in a way. There is a certain pride of being wanted by the Saudi and they are willing to pay 200 million for Ronaldo or Benzema. ASt this moment, I am now looking at a small skyscraper across the street. Imagine that I am worth more than that building. it must have felt good.

 

I was not one of them; I don't care where they go. They have achieved everything and have nothing to prove. Like Iniesta going to Japan. It's a business at the end of the day.

Now Oscar is another story...

 

They could do whatever they want. Theyve given their best years for the club.

Bout time they give their worse years to the Saudis.

 

The Figo thing was definitely about respect. He had no respect for Gaspart and Gaspart didn’t respect him either.

It’s similar to Kroos and Bayern. They wouldn’t want to pay him Gotze money, because they didn’t respect him and value him like they did with Gotze. So yes money was an aspect but the fundamental issue was respect.

Benzema isn’t about respect at all. I’m sure him and Flo and the rest of the club are very close. It’s about the end of a cycle. He’s done all he can for his employer and feels like a change of scenery. I’ve done this in my career before, I’m sure most people have.

 

I was not referring to Real Madrid and Benzema. I don't meant Benzema not getting respect here.
I was talking about money in general. The money involved is not just about the value of the amount. It is a direct indication and vindication of ones' places in the game. Michael Jordan used to get a pay rise so that he became the highest earner in the NBA, but he actually did not need to earn more money than the other players and it was the respect of being the top earners that counted more.

 

🚨🎖️| BREAKING: Karim Benzema has decided, he is LEAVING Real Madrid. @DiMarzio pic.twitter.com/ceB1VSrqNK

— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) June 1, 2023

 

Going to miss this guy’s cold pics lol

 

Why RM management have waited too long for the extend of contract and didn’t signed it few months ago. They never thought this could happen and rely on him to extend till 2024 in the end of the season. The same goes with modric and kroos, Asensio. Why not finish this saga in February ? March ?

 

🚨 Benzema on IG. pic.twitter.com/USHTb3XAsJ

— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) June 1, 2023

 

One of my favorites. Forgot what it felt like to not know he would be there and we could rely on him.

Enjoy your new adventure crack. You gave us a discount for years and fought like he'll for our shirt. You deserve this!

 

That’s not quite how I remember it, Benz got an offer and it looks like he has decided to take it, no railing at the club in an interview before moving, still performing at a decent level, and valued at the club, no problems with the manager, settled comfortable and still valuable to the team,

i’d say there are differences with this move and Ronaldo’s, who IMO thought he’d lambaste all and sundry at Manure and possibly, a host of CL winning caliber clubs would flock to compete to snap him up, in the end it did not work out that way and so, he took the lucrative offer on the table

 

Again Benz, respect, I will certainly miss his sublime football and his goals since Ronaldo left, a true leader for us

 

Because they didn't think he would sell out to the retirement league the second they waved the petrodollars in front of his face.

From BdO 2022 to Saudi league in 2023. Sad ending and not fitting for the quality he still possesses. If it was planned and there was a proper preparation and sendoff it would have been easier to swallow. This is packing the bags and leaving in a (gold)rush. Both Benzema and the club deserved better, but I guess now his financial hardship is finally over.

 

Please correct me if I’m wrong but weren’t you one of the people that couldn’t wait to see the back of him, wanting a replacement saying he was washed up and all that , not just this season but last season too before he pulled out all the stops, if so what difference does it make how he leaves and where he goes?