Karim Benzema hints at return to Real Madrid

Real Madrid legend Karim Benzema has hinted that he would like to return to the club after his illustrious playing career.

With 354 goals in 14 years, Benzema is second on Real Madrid's all-time goalscoring list, ahead of his idols Raúl and Alfredo Di Stéfano. With 648 appearances between 2009 and 2023, he is also the player with the fifth most caps in the club's history.

In the past, Real Madrid has brought back former players for various roles off the pitch. The stars of the 1980s, Jorge Valdano and Emilio Butragueno, held important administrative positions. Raul has been head coach of Real Madrid Castilla since 2019, while Alvaro Arbeloa is currently the youth coach. Santiago Solari has coached several teams, the highest level being the first team, with Zinedine Zidane acting as advisor and then twice as head coach.

Benzema stated in an interview with Cheap jerseys admitted that he did not know whether coaching was really the path he wanted to take and that he only wanted to be "close" to President Florentino Perez.

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

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

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

"I feel at home here," he said. "My life is just like in Madrid. I get up, train in the gym at home and in the afternoon I train with the team. In the evening, I sometimes go out for dinner or to the beach. You can't go for a walk on the street here either, people are so crazy about football Real Madrid Jersey.