A beautiful, emotional, historical and highly challenging chapter comes to an end. Real Madrid and Karim Benzema parted ways in this season’s finale. His departure was made official hours before the last game of La Liga vs Bilbao, despite many rumors that suggested Karim would stay another year. It surely saddened the fans and all Madridistas, but the player and the club had agreed upon it and the only thing left was to celebrate this amazing period of 14 years filled with successes and joy. Benzema joined Madrid in summer 2009 as a very young man and left in summer 2023 as a legend. Interestingly, his debut in 2009 with the white shirt came exactly vs the team he will play for in the upcoming years: Al-Ittihad Club in Saudi Arabia.
Karim Benzema was one of the stars of the last game against Athletic Club. The club's second all-time top scorer bid farewell to the Santiago Bernabéu, scoring his 354th goal and receiving a standing ovation from the fans when he was substituted. At the end of the clash, the French striker presented club president Florentino Pérez with a shirt dedicated to him that read: "For my presi, KB9".
The club also made the official statement regarding his departure to clarify everything for the fans and the media on June 4. The statement wrote: “Real Madrid Football Club and our captain Karim Benzema have agreed to bring his brilliant and unforgettable time as a player at our club to a close. Real Madrid would like to show our gratitude and affection to a player who is already one of our greatest legends”.
“Karim Benzema joined our club in 2009, at just 21 years of age, and has been a fundamental player in this golden age of our history. During the fourteen seasons in which he has represented our badge and our shirt, he has won 25 titles, a record number for any Real Madrid player: 5 European Cups, 5 Club World Cups, 4 European Super Cups, 4 Leagues, 3 King's Cups and 4 Spanish Super Cups”.
“Karim Benzema is the current UEFA Ballon d'Or and UEFA Player of the Year, as well as being included in the FIFA FIFPRO XI and winning the Pichichi Trophy 2022. Awards received after one of the most extraordinary seasons in our history, especially in the Champions League, in which our captain played some memorable matches that contributed to Real Madrid winning their 14th European Cup in Paris, being the top scorer of the competition with 15 goals”.
“Karim Benzema is the fifth player who has worn our shirt the most times with 647 appearances, and is Real Madrid's second all-time top scorer with 353 goals. He is also Real Madrid's second all-time top scorer in both La Liga and the European Cup. He is also the fourth top scorer in the history of the Champions League and the fourth top scorer in the history of La Liga”.
“Karim Benzema's career at Real Madrid has been a shining example of conduct and professionalism, and he has represented the values of our club. Karim Benzema has earned the right to decide his future”.
“Madridistas and all the fans all over the world alike have enjoyed his magical and unique football, which has made him one of the great icons of our club and one of the great legends of world football”.
“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 6 June, at 12:00pm (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”.
The institutional farewell and tribute ceremony for Karim Benzema took place on Tuesday, 6 June, at noon, at Real Madrid City, with the president Florentino Pérez in attendance. Realmadrid TV broadcasted the event live. The ceremony kicked off with an emotional video with images of the captain, as a tribute to his record of 25 trophies, his 648 games and 354 goals and then continued with a few words from Florentino Pérez.
The president, who awarded Benzema with Real Madrid's brilliant gold insignia, said: "Today is a very difficult day for me. It's a day that brings back memories and the emotions of the last 14 years and it's also a day of sentiment and emotions for all madridistas. A period of enormous anticipation began 14 years ago for all madridistas, one of the most impressive in our 121 years of history".
He continued: "Dear Karim, you arrived at Real Madrid 14 years ago and you have become one of the best players of all time. To everyone who has felt and feels this sadness at your departure from Real Madrid, I would like to say that this is also the time to remember the great fortune we've had enjoying your football throughout all these years. We have seen you do incredible things wearing our crest and our jersey all over the world. This is something that no madridista will ever forget".
A legendary record: "Everything you have accomplished at the club of your life and, most importantly, how you have achieved it, earning the respect and admiration of all of us. Whenever you look back on your career with us, you will always be surrounded by these memories and these 25 trophies. Nobody has won more trophies than you at Real Madrid".
"When you arrived you were almost a child and today you leave as one of our greatest legends and one of the greatest players of all time. Your legacy will last forever as a beautiful love story between Benzema and Real Madrid. I'm sure that wherever you are, you will be one of our greatest ambassadors and will continue to represent the values of Real Madrid. Because this is and always will be your home", the President added.
His role as captain in La Decimocuarta: You led this team and you were the finest example of our greatest identifying feature. When it seemed impossible, when nobody believed in us, you were there with your team-mates to show once again that Real Madrid never gives up, and that with this crest we fight until the last second in every game. No madridista or football fan will ever forget those impossible comebacks last year", he concluded.
After Florentino Perez, it was Karim who got his word. He expressed his thoughts as follows: "It's difficult to talk. There are so many emotions. I wanted to thank Real Madrid and my team-mates. It's been a good journey in my life. I was lucky enough to fulfil my childhood dream thanks to the presi, who a long time ago, when I was just 21 years old, went to my house, with my parents. When I saw you I said, he's the man who brought Zizou and Ronaldo and now he wants me in his team. Thank you very much for that".
He continued: "I'll never forget Real Madrid because it is impossible. It's the best club in the world and in history, that's as good as it gets. It's time for me to leave today and to have another story, but the most important thing for me is what I've won here. Like I said, the first day I came here, I'm going to say it again: 1,2,3, Hala Madrid. It's a little bit of a sad day, because I'm leaving this club and that pains me. My dream was in my head, I signed for Madrid and I wanted to finish at Madrid, but life sometimes gives you another opportunity and I've taken it with all my family".
Acknowledgement of Ancelotti: "I also wanted to thank the coach, he has always placed a lot of trust in me. I'll never forget that. He's a top coach and I've learned a lot with you. Thank you very much for everything".
Thankful to the fans: "Thanks to the fans, who push us to play well, to be strong, to have the mentality and to be where I am today. I'll always go to see Madrid matches. Thanks to everyone".
Brilliant gold insignia: Members of the board of directors, coach Carlo Ancelotti, teammates such as Modrić, Courtois, Nacho and Lucas Vázquez and other club legends such as Roberto Carlos, Arbeloa and Raúl were also present at the ceremony. President Florentino Pérez handed Benzema the Real Madrid brilliant gold insignia in a ceremony that was rounded off with a group photo with the 25 trophies that the Frenchman has won during his time at the club.
The Frenchman also spoke to Realmadrid TV following the emotional tribute and farewell ceremony held at Real Madrid City: "It's been a long journey. Real Madrid has given me all the love I could have had, because I left my family when I was 21 and found another family here. Thank you to the president, who has always supported me, and thanks to the fans too, who have given me so much love. When I look back, all the trophies, all the magical nights at the Bernabéu, I'll never forget it".
"I never imagined I would win so many trophies, but I imagined playing for Madrid, scoring goals and trying to create magic on the pitch. I did that. And I have had the opportunity to win a lot of trophies here. It's the all time best club for me. Since I was a kid I wanted to do great things in football. From the beginning to the end I always wanted to do good things for the people", he said.
A message to the fans: "Thank you very much for so many years, thank you very much for the magical nights at the Bernabéu and, as I've always said: one, two, three... Hala Madrid!”
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