MOSCOW, June 5 Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti said that the departure from the team of the current owner of the “Golden Ball” Karim Benzema came as a surprise to him.
Benzema's departure from Real Madrid at the end of the season was announced on Sunday. Media reported that the Saudi Al-Ittihad offered the 35-year-old Frenchman a two-year contract worth a total of 200 million euros.
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“His departure was a surprise, and it was a surprise for everyone, you must understand this. It was a last minute decision. Yesterday he trained normally, and today he made such a decision. We have time to think about what we should do. Next year we will have a competitive squad,» Ancelotti was quoted as saying by the club's official website.
«I part with him knowing that I coached one of the best football players in the world. He is a very kind, modest and serious person. We are not happy about his departure, but we must respect his decision. He deserved the right to choose, and we are all grateful to him for what he was able to do for the club. This is legendary, unforgettable and will forever be remembered,» the coach added.
Benzema has been playing for Real Madrid since 2009. Together with the team, he became a four-time champion of Spain, a three-time winner of the Cup and a four-time winner of the Spanish Super Cup. He also won the Champions League and the Club World Cup five times. In October 2022, the striker won the Ballon d'Or for the first time in his career.