Karim Benzema bound for Saudi Arabia as kingdom makes superstar swoops

In Riyadh, just after the turn of the year, colleagues of Karim Benzema detected he felt at a crossroads in his career. Real Madrid, the club he has captained for the last two seasons, were in the city for the Spanish Super Cup.

Benzema had not played much football in the preceding two months, having missed the entire World Cup, left out by France because of an injury he had insisted was responding favourably to treatment.

He scored all Madrid’s goals from open play in the Spanish Super Cup tournament, a semi-final drawn 1-1 and won on penalties against Valencia and a 3-1 defeat to Barcelona in the final.

He appreciated the special reception given to him, the holder of the Ballon d’Or, by the 50,000-plus crowd at the King Fahd Stadium. “I can’t say for sure how much time I have left but I want to enjoy it,” he said in a reflective moment during the trip.

Benzema called time on his 14-year stint at Madrid at the weekend, scored the last of his 354 goals for them on Sunday and was waved off with appropriate reverence.

“I am conscious of having managed one of the greatest players in the world, the greatest of strikers,” said Carlo Ancelotti, the Madrid manager under whom Benzema won the first and last of his five Champions League titles.

“A complete player, a generous person, humble and serious. We thank him for everything he has been able to do at this club, legendary, unforgettable things.”

Another ovation awaits at Al Ittihad, the Saudi Arabian champions whose lucrative offer has persuaded Benzema, 35, to make Jeddah his new home, accelerating his departure from Spain, where he had been expected to spend at least one more year. “It surprised us all,” said Ancelotti, “but we have to respect it. He has thought hard about