Karim Benzema's time at Spanish heavyweights Real Madrid has come to an end after the club officially confirmed he will be leaving in the summer.
The goal-gobbling Frenchman became a serial winner during his 13-year association with Los Blancos but will soon provide his services elsewhere.
Benzema won the 2022 Ballon d'Or as reward for a brilliant season when he racked up 44 goals and was hugely influential in Madrid's triumphs in the Champions League, La Liga and Supercopa de Espana. He is Real's second highest goalscorer ever and won an incredible 24 pieces of silverware while at the Bernabeu.
So why is Benzema leaving Real now? Here's how the saga has played out so far.
Karim Benzema's initial plans
In early June, 90min understood Benzema informed Madrid president Florentino Perez that he would leave at the end of the month, coinciding with his contract expiring.
Although he had a series of clubs to choose from, he decided to move to the Middle East and picked newly crowned Saudi Arabian champions Al-Ittihad as his next club.
However, after telling Perez and co of his decision to leave, he had had a late change of heart and supposedly intended to continue plying his trade under Carlo Ancelotti at the Santiago Bernabeu.
"Why am I going to talk about the future if I am in Madrid? The thing that is talking is the internet and the reality is not the internet," Benzema said at an awards ceremony when quizzed about his future.
Which new club is Karim Benzema joining?
A player on the market with such a high reputation at the elite level would usually attract some of the biggest clubs in Europe. However, the next move for Benzema has already been decided
90min understands Benzema had his pick of Saudi Arabian teams to join and opted for champions Al-Ittihad on a two-year contract which will see the striker pocket an annual wage of €100m. The monetary appeal may well have swayed Benzema to elect the Middle East, even if some of Europe's biggest clubs would have been keen on signing him.
Although Madrid were surprised by Benzema's choice, their transfer team, headed by Juni Calafat, have already prepared a list of potential replacements.
Tottenham striker Harry Kane is the club's ideal striker signing this summer, while Kai Havertz, Victor Osimhen and Joselu are also present on their shortlist.
What has Carlo Ancelotti initially said about the situation?
Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti had backed his frontman's latest decision to stay put and offset any claims that his number nine would leave the club this summer.
As speculation surrounding the saga grew, Ancelotti was probed for answers about Benzema's future in a pre-match press conference for Madrid's final game of the 2022/23 season.
"I agree with Karim, internet is not the reality," he said. "Benzema has one more year of contract with Real Madrid until 2024 and we have no doubts. I think it's clear.
"The legends of this club have to retire at Real Madrid. This is what I believe and what the club believes. But the player maybe doesn't think the same."
Ancelotti was eager to hold onto his chief goalscorer heading into the forthcoming campaign. Benzema had been expected to pen another year extension though that deal was never finalised.
However, with official Madrid communications now stating that their cult hero has decided to put an end to his illustrious career in the Spanish capital, Ancelotti will scour the market for a worthy replacement.
READ MORE ON KARIM BENZEMA'S EXIT FROM REAL MADRID
This article was originally published on 90min as Why is Karim Benzema leaving Real Madrid?.
