Al Ittihad striker Karim Benzema has explained why he made the decision to leave Real Madrid earlier this year, less than 12 months after winning the 2022 Ballon d'Or.
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While Cristiano Ronaldo's switch to Al Nassr in January proved a defining moment in Saudi Arabia's ambitions of growing the profile of its top league, Benzema's arrival provided arguably just as much of a boost.
It meant the landing of the former's signature was not a once-off, and that more household names would see the Saudi Pro League as a viable option going forward. The Frenchman also joined Al Ittihad just eight months after winning last year's Golden Ball.
For a while, it appeared the five-time UEFA Champions League winner would be committing to new terms in Madrid until he ultimately chose to accept Al Ittihad's advances, an offer that made him one of the sport's highest-paid players.
Benzema, 35, has since suggested he felt it was the right opportunity to take on a new challenge following the years of success he had in Spain.
"I am very happy and proud with everything I have done and won with Real Madrid, but I think, for me, it was a good time to try something new in my life after everything I had already won in Madrid," he said, according to AS.
"When the football project started in Saudi Arabia, it seemed huge in all aspects. I wanted to be a part of it and help football move forward in this country.
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"There is a lot of passion here and I am happy with the level of the game. I'm really surprised by the level in Saudi Arabia because in Europe we don't see many football matches here. Now, they do."
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