Karim Benzema is now said to have made a big call on his Real Madrid future after reportedly receiving a lucrative offer from a Saudi Arabian club.
The 35-year-old remains among those players at Real whose deals are set to expire at the end of the season, with other experienced campaigners such as Luka Modric and Toni Kroos also potentially out of contract in the Spanish capital in June.
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Following a sensational 2021/22 season, which saw him claim the 2022 Ballon d'Or award, Benzema's fortunes have taken a slight dip in this campaign due to a series of injuries that have kept him out for 13 games so far, per Transfermarkt.
However, he remains a crucial part of Carlo Ancelotti's side, once again leading the team's goalscoring chart with 25 goals across all competitions so far this season.
According to Marca, the Frenchman has decided to reject all interest from teams in Saudi Arabia and extend his stay at the Santiago Bernabeu instead.
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It is said the centre-forward has been made a lucrative offer by at least one club from the Middle East, with the Saudi Pro League eager to attract more big-name players from Europe following Al-Nassr's acquisition of Cristiano Ronaldo in December.
It remains unclear how long Benzema's potential contract extension in Madrid will be, with various reports suggesting that Los Blancos are also weighing up a move for Manchester City star Erling Haaland in 2024.
Ancelotti recently spoke of plans to keep Modric, Kroos, and Benzema at the LaLiga club next season.
"I think (they) will stay," the Italian tactician said on Friday, according to the Daily Mail.
"We have to evaluate the players not by their age but by what they do.
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"You can think the three don't have the physical profile or energy of the younger players, but what these three have in terms of game management is unique, you can't buy it on any market in the world.
"This is born with experience – age takes something from you, but it gives you something back as well.'
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