"I want to be close to Florentino when I retire"

Karim Benzema, now at Al Ittihad after a glorious period at Real Madrid, was the protagonist in 'Los Amigos de Edu', where he was able to recall his time at the 'Merengues' and talk about his present in Saudi football.

“I feel good here, calm. It's not the same as at Madrid, although here you also always have to win. Every year the level increases and they demand titles. I've always noticed that people have always wanted me, even when I came with Madrid. We have a very good team and coach,” began the Frenchman on his adaptation to Arabia and Al Ittihad.

“My day-to-day life is like in Madrid. I get up, train at home in the gym and in the afternoon we train with the team. At night, sometimes I go out for dinner or go to the beach. Here you can't walk in the street either, people are crazy about football. I still take care of myself the same way I did when I was at Madrid”, said the striker in relation to his routine in the Asian country.

Now entering the subject, Benzema spoke about the controversy of Vinicius and the Ballon d'Or. The Brazilian, who did not go to the gala, was second behind Spain's Rodri. “I don't want to talk about 'France Football', but Vini made a lot of effort. When Madrid was European champion, he was decisive. There is no other more deserving than Vini. I sit down to watch football and I see that he does things that only the best do. I sent him a message when he didn't win it (the Ballon d'Or), I was sad”.

About his compatriot Mbappe, who signed for Madrid last summer, Karim gave him a piece of advice: “He knows that at Madrid, if you miss, they kill you because they brought you only to score goals. The pressure over there is huge. Your situation is different from mine. I arrived very young, with 21, he arrived with 25”.

 

March 1, 2025

"I started as a boy and ended up being a man"

After 354 goals and 145 assists in 14 seasons at Madrid, Benzema made the decision to leave the club and take on a new adventure in Saudi Arabia. Karim himself explained why he left the 'merengue' team: “I did everything, I started as a boy and ended up being a man. With all the titles and the Ballon d'Or, I wanted to leave on a high. Nobody knows how I would have performed next year. For me, Madrid is the best club in the world and I didn't want to leave to compete for another team that could compete against them, like PSG or City.”

The Frenchman's beginnings were not easy at the Spanish side: “It was very complicated. I didn't know what the environment was like in Madrid. I came from the bottom, if I put my arms down I knew I would not succeed, but I had talent. When I was young it's difficult to accept criticism, people don't understand that I was young, that I don't understand the language and that I'm far from my family. In Madrid you learn quickly to be mentally strong. Now, the criticism makes me laugh”.

His great supporter was Florentino Perez, to whom he will always be grateful. “The other day I was with Florentino when I was in Madrid. My signing? I was in Lyon and my father called me and told me I had to go home quickly. I went in and there was Florentino, I was just thinking that he was the man who brought Zidane and the 'Galacticos'. He told my father that as long as he was in Madrid, I would be there. He was the first person I called when I decided I was leaving. He didn't quite understand. I told him that the youngsters (Vinicius and Rodrygo) were ready.”

Finally, Benzema, who assured that he does not know when he will hang up his boots, confessed that he would like to be at Florentino's side when the time comes. “I don't know. I have a two-year contract with Al Ittihad. Let's see how I feel each year. I don't know about coaching, it seems more complicated than being a player. I want to be close to Florentino when I retire,” he concluded.