Real Madrid striker, Karim Benzema has reportedly been offered a mouth-watering £345million deal to come play in the Saudi Arabian League. That is a whooping N345 billion in Naira!
Benzema who is now speculated to leave Real Madrid in the summer is still considering the offer and is doing his best to show allegiance to Real Madrid.
When asked about the potential move to Saudi Arabia, Benzema said:
“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”.
Sports platform ESPN had earlier reported an offer of £350m was made to Benzema from Saudi side, Al Ittihad but that has still not been fully confirmed or denied by all parties.
Benzema is out of contract at the end of the season but was initially expected to stay on for an extra season at Madrid.
Now all bets are off as the talk of a humongous contract from the Middle East fills the air.
It is expected that the contract to be signed by Benzema would equal the same terms given to Christiano Ronaldo who makes an unbelievable £173m/yr deal at club Al-Nassr.
Sport watchers are convinced that these terms are just not only football related. The Saudi Arabian Government is believed to be very keen to open up the country to Tourism to diversify the economy of the oil rich state. What better way to achieve this than to bring in some of the best and most famous footballers in the world to play in the Saudi Arabian League.
Like Argentinian superstar, Lionel Messi, Benzema is also believed to be on the radar to become an ambassador for Saudi Arabia and help the country make a successful bid for the 2020 World Cup.
It would certainly be a double coup for the Saudi Arabian League if they are able to lure the Argentinian World Cup winning star to sign and feature in the Saudi League. Messi has announced he would be leaving Paris St. Germain in the summer but has not indicated his next destination.
Will the lure of the big money on offer tempt Benzema and Messi to make a move and play in the Middle East?
