Carlo Ancelotti calls Karim Benzema’s departure from Real Madrid a “surprise to everyone”

Manager Carlo Ancelotti said that Karim Benzema’s choice to leave Real Madrid after 14 years of trophy-laden play was unexpected, but he emphasized that the Ballon d’Or winner has earned the right to make his own decisions.

In the offseason, Real’s 35-year-old attacker will leave as a free agent. The Frenchman is said to be interested in a lucrative transfer to Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia.

“Everyone was shocked by his leaving, but it must be accepted. Ancelotti informed reporters after Real’s match against Athletic Bilbao that it was a last-minute decision.

“He trained regularly yesterday, and today he made this choice. We’ve given in to it. He told me he was going when we chatted this morning, and I accepted his explanation.

“He has given it some consideration, and his choice is a part of the club’s ongoing change, which will continue into the next season. We have time to consider what has to be done. Next year, we’ll have a strong team.

In his farewell LaLiga match at the Bernabeu on Sunday, Benzema scored a penalty to seal a 1-1 draw with Bilbao, ensuring Real Madrid finished second overall ahead of their neighborhood rivals Atletico Madrid.

Benzema joined Real in 2009 from Olympique Lyonnais, and when Cristiano Ronaldo departed the team in 2018 to join Juventus, he took over as the club’s offensive leader and top goal threat.

Benzema finished his career at Real Madrid with a club record 25 trophies, including five European Cups, four LaLiga championships, and three Copas del Reys. He scored over 350 goals for Real to rank second on the team’s all-time scoring list after Ronaldo.

Ancelotti remarked, “I bid him farewell knowing that I have coached one of the best strikers in the world and one of the greatest players in the world.”

“While we can’t be happy about his leaving, we must accept his choice. We all appreciate him for what he has done for this club, therefore he has earned the right to make his own decision.

He was a renowned, iconic personality who would live on forever in this club’s memories.

The departures of striker Mariano Diaz, offensive midfielder Marco Asensio, and forward Eden Hazard were also confirmed by Real, creating gaps in the attack that club president Florentino Perez will have to fill up over the offseason.