It's not meant to be; he's retiring - similar to how Bale, Andrea Pirlo. Lampard, David Villa, Henry, etc. went to the MLS. Are they all failures? Why can't you thank him for all he's done for the team over the years? He is not completely finished; but his level/consistency has declined dramatically since last season. He is injured every other weekend and he knows his limits. He understands that now is the right time to let go. He made the right move. Now let him retire in peace and enjoy his millions.
Come on... Religion had nothing to do with this move, nor did culture (Benz is more Spanish and French than anything else). It's all about the money and it's perfectly fine. Let him cache out. I think he also felt that another season in 3 competitions will take an even higher toll on him than this season and didn't want to break his buddy - which is also fine.
Dude, if you want to not use money from any corrupt country, or products from companies that don't hurt the environment - you'll soon find out you'll be living in a tent and basically living on some nuts and seeds you'll be collecting from land that is owned by someone that is corrupted as well.
What about the tent? Probably a corrupt capitalist produced it. Throw them all in jail. That’s just bitterness because he doesn’t like the Arab evils. Already joined my ignore list.
I think you're overthinking this by quite a margin. The guy has achieved everything in club football, gave us his absolute best years, put the club first at all times and went for a graceful exit before he would become a burden. To make it all better: he's getting paid a handsome amount of money as well. If you ask me, he's had close to a perfect club career and this step (to a lower level league) is actually more of step towards perfection of his club career than not. If someone deserves it, it's Benzema!
Bale Pirlo etc. were finished at the highest level when they went to the MLS. Benzema isn't. His level/consistency could have been remedied by sharing time with another elite striker at Madrid, not by dropping to the Saudi league. I can thank him for what hes done for the club, and at the same time I can be critical for this decision. They are two different things. And I think he was already enjoying his millions, many of them. There are levels to what is acceptable and it depends on many factors. Its not black and white. If you want to be pure you would consider playing for Madrid unethical as well. But he had a choice between that and a much worse alternative (from an ethical perspective) and he made the wrong one IMO.
To be honest, I don't like oil money and what it brings to football in general - mainly making this sport way more corrupted than before. And Saudi Arabia is definitely not a model of democracy or equality in any way, but between that and not letting a legend get a comfortable retirement plan - there's a big gap.
Also such a rushed inconspicuous exit together with deadwood like Mariano and co. So sudden, with zero ceremony, tribute and emotion. Far from befitting to how special he was to this club.
What would you have the club do? Its not like Perez called up the Saudis and told them when to submit their interest in Benz.
AU REVOIR pic.twitter.com/NgnOYKIm1B— marselle (@yesnocse) June 4, 2023 AU REVOIR pic.twitter.com/NgnOYKIm1B— marselle (@yesnocse) June 4, 2023
I used to hate him liked everyone else. I have written many negative posts about him over here. Then, one day, I had an enlightenment. I suddenly saw something special about him. The following post did generate a lot of negative replies, but I did not care. Even before the departure of Ronaldo, I knew that he was someone special. From then on, I decided to defend him in RMBS. I do not claim to be one of the wiser posters here, but Benzema saved my rep in this forum by silencing his critics. Thank you.
🇫🇷 Signed for €35m at 21 years old, 647 games, 354 goals, 165 assists, 25 titles & 1 Ballon d’Or later Karim Benzema officially ends his Real Madrid career. ✨ Gracias, @Benzema pic.twitter.com/XUzVBrj2YT— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) June 4, 2023
Karim Benzema cried when he first saw his name on the Real Madrid shirt and Cristiano Ronaldo offered him his glasses to cover the tears. 🥲 pic.twitter.com/f9bW8wpMUK— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) June 5, 2023
🚨🌕| Karim Benzema ➡️ Al-Ittihad — HERE WE GO! @FabrizioRomano ✅🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/QLd4nSQb9f— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) June 5, 2023 🚨🇸🇦 Karim Benzema has signed main part of docs to become new Al Ittihad player joining the Saudi league — here we go!Understand contract will be valid until 2025 but will also include option for further season.Karim will say goodbye to Madrid fans then travel to Saudi. pic.twitter.com/OCzwszv2OL— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 5, 2023
I would have the club tell Benzema that hes still a key player that we need to win trophies here, and that hes under contract so can go after his contract expires next summer, because otherwise its messing up our squad planning. The way people are talking here now, you would think that back in the day there was like one guy who was shitting on Benzema for not scoring and everybody else were ridiculing that guy as they knew hes more than that with the linkup ability. And not the other way around The quoted post is from 2018, I was saying this around 2014. But as much as everyone were wrong in those times, I was even more for believing he can only be a "Pippen" and he can never be "Jordan" and fill Cristiano's shoes. Thats why now I am skeptical of this idea that hes washed up and its time to go to Arabia. He only seemed marginally worse physically compared to last season, and that can be attributed to the heavy workload.
If I recall correctly, in that earth shattering summer of 2009 Flo stated he purchased the past best player, current best player and future best player in Benzema. To say it was always smooth sailing for Karim in Madrid is not accurate and his potential wasn't truly fulfilled until later on he was more Zidane than R9. His transformation in 18-19 until now has cemented his legacy with the club.
His Balon D'Or season was one of the coolest ones I watched as a madridista. He was simply above anyone else. His PK against City showed how confident he was at the time. I also believe that season burned him out for good. It's not easy to be the best on the planet at 34. I'm glad he could lift the CdR trophy too this year as a nice farewell, but I think his work was already done last season.
He chose against having an official farewell at the Bernabeu and wanted to do a humble and small event in the press room instead. Doesn't like to do media so there was no press conference with questions and interaction, basically a statement with no press conference. Didn't seem overly emotional or shed tears like others. Very much on brand for a very low key, down to earth, keeping his life to himself guy. For all the flash on social media, the private shenanigans, we have to also admit that Benzema has been the most down to earth, keeping to himself media superstar this club has seen.
Benz tries so hard not to cry lol. Guess it would make him look like a pvssy to his thug life friends or something.
🚨 Official: Karim Benzema joins Al-Ittihad. pic.twitter.com/jDkLF6oqZw— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) June 6, 2023