He was the reason I left the club and refused to play. It’s not the coach. It’s not the fans. I could not stay at the club after what he did. And he is still at the club doing it to ther other players.”- Karim Benzema have finally broken silence after revealing to the fans why he really left Real Madrid after many years at the club

Sure! Here’s a word-for-word paraphrase of the text, with only the quoted parts left untouched:

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*”I don’t want him in my team”* – Florentino Pérez tells Carlo Ancelotti to get rid of Madrid disappointment following Terrible display against Arsenal

2 hours ago

*”I have warned Carlo Ancelotti about that particular player, he refused to bench him, He keeps causing problems to the teams, He almost Denied Real Madrid three points against Arsenal”* – Real Madrid Icon and Ex-Defender Robert Carlos identifies ONE player unworthy of a Real Madrid starting spot, cautioned Ancelotti about the costly blunder

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MBAPPE – PSG CONFLICT

3 hours ago

Manchester City targets Madrid player

4 hours ago

*”I don’t want him in my team”* – Florentino Pérez tells Carlo Ancelotti to get rid of Madrid disappointment following Terrible display against Arsenal

2 hours ago

*”I have warned Carlo Ancelotti about that particular player, he refused to bench him, He keeps causing problems to the teams, He almost Denied Real Madrid three points against Arsenal”* – Real Madrid Icon and Ex-Defender Robert Carlos identifies ONE player unworthy of a Real Madrid starting spot, cautioned Ancelotti about the costly blunder

2 hours ago

Laporta masterstroke

3 hours ago

**Official**: Laporta Replaces Luis Díaz with Nico Williams – A More Intelligent, Economical, and Tactically Wise Decision

3 hours ago

MBAPPE – PSG CONFLICT

3 hours ago

Manchester City targets Madrid player

4 hours ago

Home > 2025 > March > 29

*”He was the reason I left the club and refused to play. It’s not the coach. It’s not the fans. I could not stay at the club after what he did. And he is still at the club doing it to the other players.”* – Karim Benzema finally speaks out, revealing to supporters the real reason he departed Real Madrid after many years with the team

Real Madrid

*”He was the reason I left the club and refused to play. It’s not the coach. It’s not the fans. I could not stay at the club after what he did. And he is still at the club doing it to the other players.”* – Karim Benzema finally speaks out, revealing to supporters the real reason he departed Real Madrid after many years with the team

Obodo | 2 weeks ago | 03 mins read

**Karim Benzema Breaks Silence on Real Madrid Departure and Transfer to Saudi Arabia**

Ex-Real Madrid skipper Karim Benzema has finally explained what led to his departure from the Spanish giants in summer 2023, providing clarity on the speculation surrounding his move.

**Leaving at the Peak**

Benzema highlighted his intention to leave while still at his best, saying:

*”I wanted to leave at the top and I never wanted to play against Real Madrid.”*

This emphasizes his love and admiration for the club, ensuring he wouldn’t compete against his former side.

**Florentino Pérez and the Emerging Talents**

Benzema shared that Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez was the first he told about his decision:

*”He didn’t quite understand… but I told him that the young stars, Vinicius and Rodrygo, were ready.”*

This reflects his trust in the new talents and his view that it was their moment to shine.

**Switching to Saudi Arabia**

When discussing his decision to join Al-Ittihad, Benzema cited both sporting and personal reasons:

*”The football project in Saudi Arabia seemed huge. I wanted to be part of it and help football grow in this country.”*

He also pointed to cultural and spiritual ties:

*”As a Muslim, being in Mecca gives you peace. Saudi Arabia welcomed me with open arms, and I felt loved immediately.”*

**A Real Madrid Legend’s Legacy and New Chapter**

Benzema stressed that his exit had nothing to do with issues involving the coach, fans, or anyone else. Instead, it was a personal move, shaped by his legacy, Madrid’s future, and his wish to contribute to football in Saudi Arabia.

Now at Al-Ittihad, Benzema starts a fresh chapter, leaving behind a legendary tenure at Real Madrid and embracing a new challenge in the Middle East.

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