Karim Benzema has described Saudi League giants Al Hilal as the ‘Real Madrid of Asia’ after completing a move to the club on winter transfer deadline day from Al Ittihad.
The former Ballon d’Or winner contract at the defending league champions was set to expire in June, but he rejected a contract extension from the club, joining Al Hilal instead.
Benzema reportedly felt insulted by the contract offer from his former club which would have seen him play for free. Instead, he terminated his contract but has remained in the country despite receiving offers from clubs in Europe.
Speaking for the first time since the transfer, Benzema revealed desire to win trophies at his new club.
“It’s good. I’m happy to be here. After my first training with the team, with the coach, I’m so happy and glad to be a part of this team”, the 38-year-old revealed.
“It’s a good team, with a good history. They have won a lot of trophies.
“It’s similar, like Real Madrid in Asia. Everything is good, the fans are good, they play well, they have good players, they have a good mentality.”
Benzema’s move to Al Hilal reportedly angered former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, who plays for another PIF-owned club Al Nassr.
The Portuguese captain has gone on strike and missed his side’s last match in protest to what he feels is an unfair treatment of Al Nassr by the PIF.
Ronaldo has not won a trophy since moving to Saudi Arabia in 2022 and believes that his side have not been invested in enough during the transfer window.
“I liked this team from before. I used to play against them with Madrid and it was not an easy game. It was a good game so I have good memories. Today I’m happy because I’m a player of Al Hilal”, Benzema concluded.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
