Karim Benzema eyeing a return to Europe, but Real Madrid doors closed | OneFootball

Karim Benzema was Real Madrid’s poster boy last season and the reason behind so many of their successes. The Frenchman’s 2022-23 season may have been injury-riddled, but he was up there in the discussion as one of the best players in the world.

His decision to leave Europe for Saudi Arabia last summer, thus, left fans across the world shocked. After all, he still had a lot to contribute at top-level football with the financial perks being the only factor in favour of the middle-east based league.

Full of regret

According to reports from MARCA, six months is all it took for Benzema to realise that he blundered.

He now feels that the Saudi Pro League, at the moment, is not the best place to nurture his football or mentality. He wants a change in scenery and a return to Europe.

The veteran’s entourage is already working hard to secure an exit less than a year after he joined Al-Ittihad.

But at this point the doors for a potential return to Real Madrid are closed for the former French international.

Benzema is not opposed to a massive pay cut to make it possible, and it goes without saying that his current employers are worried by his stance.

Al-Ittihad will not make it easy for their star man to leave soon, but a sizeable transfer fee could change everything.

What is clear through the situation, however, is that Real Madrid are not interested in pairing up with the player again and have closed the doors to his return.

Looking to the future

Benzema will go down as one of Real Madrid’s greatest-ever players, however, a football administration cannot run on emotions.

Already 36 years of age, signing the player again would be an absurd decision for the club’s long-term plans.

Los Blancos have found an able make-shift solution in Joselu and are still eyeing the signing of a world-class number 9 in the coming summer.

.Both Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe have been linked with a move to Real Madrid and it remains to be seen which one comes to fruition.