Real Madrid superstar Karim Benzema is reportedly in advanced talks to put pen to paper on a new contract at the Santiago Bernabeu.
According to El Confidencial, Karim Benzema is on the verge of extending his contract with Real Madrid, which was one of the reasons why Los Blancos decided against pursuing Erling Haaland with full intent.
Benzema has been with Real Madrid since 2009 when he joined from Olympique Lyon. The Frenchman has always been a pivotal part of the team. But his performance levels have gone through the roof over the past couple of seasons. The 34-year-old is enjoying his best-ever career campaign in 2021/22, having plundered 43 goals and set up 14 more in 43 games in all competitions.
Benzema has been crucial to Real Madrid winning the 2021/22 La Liga title and the Spanish Supercup. He has also been the driving force behind their run to the finals of the UEFA Champions League, where they face Liverpool later this month.
Despite turning 34 years old in December last year, the French international has shown no signs of slowing down and has been playing some of his finest football in the white of Real Madrid.
And as per the report, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez believes that Benzema can continue to play at this level for another couple of years due to the way he takes care of himself. It states that the French striker’s form was one of the major reasons Los Blancos did not go all out in their pursuit of Erling Haaland, who has now signed for Manchester City.
Instead, Real Madrid made it their primary focus to renew Benzema’s contract. The 34-year-old’s current deal stands to run out at the end of the 2022/23 season, but an extension is already in the works. The report states that negotiations over a new contract are in advanced stages, which would see the former Lyon starlet extend his stay at the Santiago Bernabeu by another year until 2024.
Considering how brilliantly he has been performing, the move is certainly a shrewd one by Florentino Perez and Real Madrid. Apart from Benzema, Luka Modric is also set to ink a new deal, with his current one expiring in June, while Nacho Fernandez is also close to penning a new deal at the Bernabeu.
Let him extend his contract