MADRID – Veteran French striker Karim Benzema signed a new deal with Real Madrid that will keep him at the La Liga club until 2023, the Spanish outfit said.
The versatile 33-year-old forward joined Madrid back in 2009 from Lyon and he has racked up an impressive 560 matches for them since. He is currently in his 13th season and was voted LaLiga player of the year last season.
After a televised signing ceremony where a best of Benzema video was played the striker posed for a photograph with Real president Florentino Perez with the pair holding up a shirt with Benzema’s name and the number 2023 on it.
“The story continues for me at the greatest club in the world,” Benzema said according to AFP.
“What an honour to be here today, thank you for trusting me over the years,” he said.
The club thanked Benzema for his long and brilliant service to them
“The French striker has won everything possible in a Madrid shirt with a massive 19 titles: four Champions Leagues, four Club World Cups, three European Super Cups, three Liga, two Spanish Cups and three Spanish Super Cups,” the club said.
“With his football he has won the hearts of all Madrid supporters.”
Benzema was long in the shadow of Ronaldo and Sergio Ramos, but since the Portuguese left for Juventus three years ago the French international has thrived.
With Ramos also out of the picture since his move to Paris Saint-Germain, Benzema is now the club’s senior star player.
One of the eye-catching details of Benzema’s new contract was the size of the release clause, at one billion euros.
Elsewhere, Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman has said midfielder Philippe Coutinho is in his plans for this season following media reports that the club was looking to offload the Brazilian.
With the Catalans in dire straits financially, local media had suggested that Barca were actively trying to sell Coutinho in order to bring their wage bill down.
While Koeman confirmed that 29-year-old Coutinho will not be fit for this weekend’s trip to Athletic Bilbao, the Dutchman said the player will feature heavily this season.
“He needs another week to train with the group before we can pick him, but he’s in my plans because he’s a fantastic player,” Koeman told a news conference on Friday.
“He can be important for Barca. He was in the team last season but got injured – however I’m telling you, he’s in my plans this term.
“He can play in various positions, and we’ve lost goals with the departure of (Lionel) Messi and need to find them somewhere else. Philippe is an option in that sense.”
Koeman added that Pedri will be available for the game in the Basque country before being given time off after featuring in 74 games for club and country since the start of last season.
“I’ve spoken to (Spain coach) Luis Enrique and they will make their own decisions and explain them, but from our point of view we’ll give him two weeks off,” he said according to Reuters.
Defender Gerard Pique will also be fit, said Koeman, after media reports suggested he was an injury doubt, while goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen remains absent with a knee problem.
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