Karim Benzema heading back to Real Madrid! Why Al-Ittihad star is making return to former club - explained

The 2022 Ballon d’Or winner walked away from Santiago Bernabeu in 2023 when joining former Blancos team-mates Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia. Regular fitness setbacks have prevented the 36-year-old frontman from making the desired impact in the Middle East.

Benzema has registered 16 goals through 33 appearances this season, but has sat out Al-Ittihad’s last two games with a knock – and was watching on from afar as they were eliminated from the King's Cup by Al-Hilal on Tuesday.

It has now been revealed that the Frenchman will be undergoing treatment at Real Madrid’s Valdebebas training complex. A statement from Al-Ittihad reads: “Karim Benzema has returned to Real Madrid to undergo medical examinations regarding the injury he suffered this season, in communication between the medical staff of Al-Ittihad and Real Madrid.”

Benzema is set to remain in Spain until next week, at which point he will return to Jeddah and link back up with the rest of the Al-Ittihad squad. It remains to be seen how prominently he will figure in the club’s five remaining games of the 2023-24 campaign.