Former Real Madrid and Ballon D’or striker Karim Benzema returns to play in Spain to shocking club
Even though Karim Benzema, the Ballon d’Or winner, only departed Real Madrid in the summer of 2023, it seems like a lifetime ago. The Frenchman will play in Spain on Saturday for the first time since June 4, 2023, 412 days after he last represented Los Blancos against Athletic Club de Bilbao at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Why has Real Madrid great Karim Benzema returned to Spain?
Now, in a preseason friendly, his Al Ittihad club will play Elche at the 5,000-seat Estadi Olímpic Camilo Cano in La Nucía. In the Spanish seaside town of Benidorm, which attracts many of visitors, Benzema and Al Ittihad have been getting ready for the next season since last week.
The 36-year-old will face Elche in addition to reuniting with former rivals Sevilla (July 26) and Real Betis (August 3). Benzema has not been in Spain since departing for Saudi Arabia in June of last year, until recently.
The current Laurent Blanc manager of Benzema, Fabinho, and Kanté
Only 300 season tickets are available for Saturday’s match against Elche, where the striker, who won 25 championships (including five Champions Leagues) with Real Madrid in 14 seasons, will be the main attraction.
For the first time since Marcelo Gallardo, the Argentine coach, departed the team at the beginning of July, Laurent Blanc, Benzema’s countryman, will be in command of Al Ittihad.
However, N’Golo Kanté is still on vacation after helping France to the semifinals of the Euro 2024 competition. Another anticipated participant is former Liverpool player Fabinho.
