Karim Benzema Plans to Stay in Saudi Arabia After Retirement to Help Soccer Grow

New Delhi [India], September 3: French International Karim Benzema recently shared his future plans in an interview with Sony Sports Network. He revealed his intention to remain in Saudi Arabia after retiring from professional soccer to help other players improve and develop the sport further.

Benzema, a 36-year-old Ballon d’Or winner, has started a new chapter with Al-Ittihad. In his first season in the Saudi Pro League, he has scored nine goals and provided seven assists in 21 appearances.

Discussing the upcoming season, Benzema said, “This season marks a fresh chapter for the club. I’ve done everything possible to strengthen the team and make us better and stronger. I’m confident about our prospects, and now it’s time for us to fight together for trophies.”

He praised the team’s readiness, crediting a strong pre-season, “The preseason went exceptionally well. We trained twice a day for three weeks, which was intense. We demonstrated our readiness in the penultimate match against Inter Milan, a strong team, confirming that we can compete at a high level. Today, we are prepared.”

Reflecting on his passion for football, Benzema stated, “I’ve felt this pressure since I was eight years old, when I first started playing for a professional club. Over time, it has transformed into ambition. For this upcoming season, I view it not as pressure but as ambition. This mindset drives me to excel and help my team win, with the support of my teammates because football is a team sport. Fans always expect more. When you support a team, you want them to win and perform well, which can lead to occasional frustration. It’s up to us players to deliver. I believe the fans are like the twelfth man on the field. Here, they are fantastic, and this season, I’m sure they will be proud of us.”

The Saudi Pro League features many football superstars, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante, and Sadio Mane.