Real Madrid looking for Benzema replacement

BINH DUONG

Coach Carlo Ancelotti recently shared about the type of player that Real Madrid wants to bring in to replace veteran striker Karim Benzema who has just left the club. Accordingly, he wants to recruit a striker who can score many goals and play a good role as a bridge.

Benzema (center) signed a contract with Al Ittihad, the team that just won the SPL. Photo: Saudi Gazette

Real Madrid hoped to keep Benzema for another season, but an offer from Saudi Arabia was too attractive to convince a player famous for his dedication. In the early morning of June 7, Al Ittihad Club in the Saudi Arabian National Championship (SPL) announced the successful recruitment of Benzema on a free transfer, in a 2-year contract with an option to extend for another season, worth 400 million Euros. At the new team, the owner of the 2022 Golden Ball will receive an income of up to 200 million Euros/year, including salary, commercial transactions and accompanying benefits.

After 14 years with Real Madrid, Benzema left the club as the second-highest goalscorer in the club's history (354 goals) and the fourth-highest scorer in La Liga history (238 goals). In the Champions League, the French striker has scored the fourth most goals, after Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski.

Last season, Benzema averaged 6 passes per game, 0.24 expected assists, 0.67 non-penalty expected goals and 60 touches. In the top 5 European leagues, no striker has reached these achievements. Therefore, ESPN believes that Real Madrid will find it difficult to find a worthy replacement for Benzema at this time. However, the Spanish Royal team can replace the 35-year-old veteran with other types of players, including two young strikers Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland. In fact, Real Madrid has planned to recruit Mbappe or Haaland to prepare for Benzema's departure, expected in 2024, not now.

If they fail to sign Mbappe or Haaland this summer, Real Madrid could target Victor Osimhen and Harry Kane. Osimhen mainly operates in the penalty area, is very strong in the air, has many shots and scores goals. However, Real Madrid consider Kane the best choice because the striker from Tottenham is close to Benzema's level. At Tottenham, Kane plays much deeper than Benzema and his contribution to the team's play is in a transitional phase, instead of helping to break down the opponent's defenses from inside and around the penalty area.

With a club that controls the ball more and has good teammates around him like Real Madrid, Kane will gradually transform into a striker like Benzema. However, the obstacle for Real Madrid is the transfer fee that can reach 9 figures that Tottenham will demand to "let go" of their 29-year-old striker.

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