Karim Benzema Denies Report Of Being Set To Leave Real Madrid And Move To Saudi Arabia.

 Karim Benzema has denied report he was set to announce his Real Madrid departure on Thursday after being linked with a move to Saudi Arabia.

The Frenchman has been rumoured by multiple publications to call time on his Real Madrid career after 14 years at the club, and one outlet went as far as saying he would confirm his exit imminently.

He was set to head for an eye-watering £345m offer over the course of a two-year contract until 2025 with Saudi Arabian club side Al-Ittihad.

The deal will also see him line up on the opposite side to former Real Madrid teammate Cristiano Ronaldo next season, and also act as an ambassador for the country's 2030 World Cup bid.

Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr, who finished second in the final league table, in January, as the Jeddah club were recently crowed Saudi Pro League champions this season, finishing five points clear of Ronaldo's Al-Nassr. 

But just when everyone thought Benzema was headed to Saudi Arabia as a free agent this summer, the veteran striker addressed the reports and fired back insisting that, at least for 'the moment', he remains on the books at Madrid after receiving the MARCA Leyenda award today.

"Speak about what? Why would I talk about the future if I'm here? What people say online is not the real world," said Benzema when asked about his future.

He then added: "At the moment, I'm here… we have a game on Sunday. I know how much Real Madrid fans love me. I feel that when I'm on the pitch."

Later, MARCA themselves published another exclusive report saying that Benzema has ultimately decided to stay in the Spanish capital at least until the summer of 2024.

Benzema who joined Madrid from Lyon in 2009 and has won five Champions League titles and four La Liga crowns, three Copa del Reys among a plethora of other trophies. He has scored 353 goals in all competitions as he clocked up 647 appearances for the club.

He enjoyed the best season of his career last year, scoring 44 goals as Los Blancos clinched both the LaLiga title and the Champions League by beating Liverpool. This led to him receiving the Ballon d'Or gong for the first time in his career.

On individual level, despite the fact that he has not been at his best on many occasions due to physical problems this season missing 18 games, he has been the top scorer for another year, scoring 30 goals with the last matchday to go.

He is set to make an appearance for Madrid on Sunday when they take on Athletic Club at Santiago Bernabeu in their final game of the season.

Luka Modric is another player linked with a summer switch to Saudi Arabia. The Croatian is yet to sign a proposed contract extension, but Real sources insist he will stay at the club.