Karim Benzema isn’t shutting the door on a possible return to Real Madrid, even as his future in Saudi Arabia remains uncertain.
In a post shared by Fabrizio Romano on 𝕏, the French forward spoke openly about the idea of reuniting with his former club.
“If Florentino is still there, it could happen. I could never say no to Pérez. I’m a Madridista. I feel it in my soul. Madrid is still my city. We’ll see what happens.”
Now 37, Benzema remains one of the club’s greatest-ever goal scorers, with more than 300 goals and a legacy packed with European nights, league titles, and unforgettable moments. His contract at Al Ittihad runs until 2026, but he admitted that the path ahead isn’t set in stone.
“I don’t know if I’ll leave Al Ittihad or stay. It depends on many factors… let’s see what happens.”
He also spoke up for Vinícius Júnior, pushing back against the criticism the Brazilian has faced.
“People forget what Vini has done for Real Madrid. It’s not fair at all. He’s a good kid with a big heart, he loves learning, he’s incredible. There’s a lot of pressure on him. He can still grow, but calling him bad now is wrong.”
Looking at Madrid’s current squad, Benzema reflected on how the team has changed since the era of veterans who carried the dressing room.
“It felt like that group would last forever. So many huge players. The game has changed now—you can’t compare. This new team has a lot going for it, but they don’t really have a clear leader. Maybe they don’t need one. They’re young, they lead their national teams, they’ve been through the big stages… they just need to understand what leadership brings.”
He also shared his thoughts on Kylian Mbappé’s role at the club and what is expected of him.
“He needs to be present in the biggest moments because he has everything to do it. There will be games where he barely touches the ball. But when the chance comes, it has to count. That’s Madrid. In games against teams like Atlético or Liverpool, he needs to rise to the moment.”
Benzema added that the key to Madrid’s attacking success will be how well the forwards understand each other.
“Vinicius, Mbappé, Rodrygo, Bellingham… they need to talk. Everyone has their job. You don’t tell Bellingham to score all the goals—that’s Mbappé’s job. And you don’t tell Mbappé to be the number 10—that’s Jude’s space. Communication is everything.”
