Karim Benzema teases return to Real Madrid | OneFootball

Real Madrid legend Karim Benzema has hinted at a desire to return the club once he has brought down the curtain on an illustrious playing career.

Benzema is second on Madrid's list of all-time goalscorers, ahead of icons Raul and Alfredo Di Stefano, having netted 354 times across 14 years. He is also fifth on the club's all-time appearance list, playing 648 games between 2009 and 2023.

Madrid have welcomed former players back in a variety of off-field roles in the past, with 1980s stars Jorge Valdano and Emilio Butragueno among those to have had prominent executive positions. Raul has been in charge of Real Madrid Castilla since 2019, with Alvaro Arbeloa currently a youth coach. Santiago Solari had spells in charge of various sides up to first-team level, with Zinedine Zidane famously serving as an adviser before two spells as head coach.

Benzema admitted in a Mega interview that he doesn't know if coaching is the path he definitely wants to take, only that he wants to "close" to president Florentino Perez.

"The other day I was with Florentino in Madrid. When he signed me [in 2009], I told my father that as long as he was at Real Madrid, I would be there," the Frenchman explained.

Benzema has a close relationship with Florentino Perez / Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/GettyImages

"He was the first person I called when I decided I was leaving. He didn't quite understand...I told him that the youngsters, Vinicius and Rodrygo, were ready. When I retire, I want to be close to football. Coach? I don't know, it seems more complicated than being a player. I want to be close to Florentino."

Benzema, now 37, is currently in his second season with Saudi Pro League giants Al Ittihad.

"I feel good here," he said. "My life is like in Madrid. I get up, train at home in the gym and in the afternoon I train with the team. In the evening, I sometimes go out to dinner or to the beach. Here you can't walk down the street either, people are crazy about football."