Benzema is already considering retirement and could return to Real Madrid. The French forward is even considering his retirement from football to take place next May, instead of 2026 as planned by his current club, Al-Ittihad. He has already reached an agreement with the Spanish club for his return as ambassador.
One of the most complex issues in sports is deciding when to retire. Many players, almost the majority, push their careers to the limit until their bodies or the game itself forces them off the field, often with the feeling that 'football has sent me into retirement'. However, there are others who, in good physical condition, choose to step aside before unceremoniously leaving. Karim Benzema (36 years old) is at this intersection. The French striker is already considering retirement, and he does not rule out doing so in 2025, at the end of the current season.
Although he has not yet made a final decision, he admits to having experienced signals that prompted him to make this reflection. With a full trophy cabinet and after a season and a half at Al-Ittihad, he is starting to get tired of the daily routines, such as training, which in Saudi Arabia take place in the afternoon (7 p.m.) due to the high morning temperatures. When a player reaches the final stages of his career, what a player's enthusiasm is most diminished by is the daily grind: the sacrifices that come with playing football after 90 minutes. This is compounded by a degree of mental fatigue, especially after a difficult start at the club. Above all, there is the motivation to live in Madrid.
Although Al-Ittihad has become more professionalized, with Ramón Planes in charge of sports, the implementation of protocols and the development of facilities and a long-term model, his arrival in Saudi Arabia last season and his entry into a league that is still taking its first steps to greatness was not easy. He was criticized for his poor initial performance [so much so that he closed his Instagram account]His coach Nuno Espírito Santo was fired in November, and with his replacement, Marcelo Gallardo, Benzema suffered more than just a setback, with a protest from the Argentine coach. Gallardo demanded that the club part ways with the star, but in the end it was he who was shown the door.
However, after overcoming that turbulent first year, things have returned to normal as he has settled into a luxurious mansion. With Laurent Blanc on the bench and a better adjustment to Jeddah, Benzema has found his niche. He is sharp, committed to the project (his team leads the competition) and fully committed. He is the team's top scorer with 10 goals in 11 games and is second in the race for the league's top scorer, level with Cristiano Ronaldo and just two goals behind Mitrovic (12). However, his good form has not blinded him to the bigger picture. In recent weeks he has begun internal discussions about his permanent retirement from football – a prospect that is also being considered within Al-Ittihad.
While the general belief is that he will hang up his boots in 2026, when his contract expires, rather than 2025, the club is not completely ruling out an earlier retirement next year. On the one hand, it would save the club from paying Karim's hefty salary, which amounts to around €100 million. On the other hand, he could remain connected to the organization and the league, earning less but occasionally acting as a figurehead. The Frenchman is gradually transitioning to that agreed role as a symbol and icon rather than just an employee. He acknowledged this shift in an interview with GQ magazine: “Here in Saudi Arabia, I am not just a footballer; I am also an ambassador. I am here to bring in top European players in the near future, even though there are already some It is our challenge to raise the competition to the level of European competitions.”
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A deal with many reasons
Benzema's short-term future therefore appears to be focused on the Middle East. But looking further ahead, his plans clearly lead him back to Real Madrid. According to Relevo, the forward – Real Madrid's second-highest scorer of all time – already has an agreement with the club to serve as a global ambassador, especially in the Arab region. This planned step is far from surprising.
Firstly, there is his excellent relationship with Florentino Pérez. His departure from the Bernabéu, a year earlier than the president had expected, did not damage a bond that extends beyond football. For Pérez, Benzema will always be his favorite 'enfant', the only player he personally visited at home to secure his signing in 2009, and the same player who inspired the president to celebrate wildly, with his hands on his head, after a of Benzema's goals. . Furthermore, Pérez is known for welcoming club legends back into the fold. For Benzema, Florentino will always remain a pivotal figure in his career: the man who managed to reach him and give him strength.
Benzema's eventual return to Madrid is also said to be motivated by sentimental and business reasons. Where possible, the player travels to the Spanish capital, where he owns a house and has built up a strong personal network over the years. For Real Madrid, including him in ambassadorial roles would be a strategic signing. There is no one better suited to represent the Madrid brand in Saudi Arabia and act as a marketing force in a booming economic market that is being closely monitored by the club's commercial and sponsorship departments.
For example, during the last Spanish Super Cup, several members of these departments traveled with the team to meet with Saudi companies and explore potential deals. The club's focus on this part of the world is evident from its growing list of Arab sponsors, such as the Saudi Investment Bank (SAIB), one of the country's most prominent state-owned banks, and Fly Emirates, as well as projects such as Real Madrid World, Dubai's theme park. Benzema's presence would significantly strengthen this impact.
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So while the Frenchman is making the most of his remaining years of quality on the pitch, his future off the pitch is already starting to take shape – first in Saudi Arabia and then at Real Madrid.
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