Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema has agreed terms on a three-year deal with Saudi Arabian champions Al-Ittihad after leaving Real Madrid.
French striker Benzema, 35, won 25 trophies -
including five Champions Leagues and four La Ligas - in 14 years with Madrid
but they agreed to let him leave his contract a year early.
He scored 354 goals for Real, second only to
Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ronaldo, who hit 450 Real goals, plays for
another Saudi club, Al-Nassr.
"It's a good league and there are many
good players," said Benzema. "Cristiano Ronaldo is already there, a
friend which shows Saudi Arabia is starting to further progress its level. I am
here to win, like I did in Europe.
"I have been fortunate to achieve
amazing things in my career and achieve everything I can in Spain and Europe.
It now feels the time is right for a new challenge and project."
Al-Ittihad are managed by former Wolves and
Tottenham boss Nuno Espirito Santo.
Benzema played 648 times for Real after his
2009 move from Lyon and scored with his last touch for the club, netting a
penalty in Sunday's 1-1 draw with Athletic Bilbao before being replaced.
On Monday it was announced Al-Ittihad were
one of four leading Saudi Arabian clubs to be taken over by the country's
Public Investment Fund, which also owns Newcastle United.
Ronaldo's Al-Nassr are another, and so are
Al-Hilal, who have been strongly linked to Paris St-Germain's Lionel Messi this
summer.
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