Karim Benzema Returns to Real Madrid - But for Unusual Reason

Karim Benzema left Real Madrid last summer to join Saudi Pro League champions Al Ittihad but is undergoing medical treatment at his former club.

Karim Benzema is recovering from injury / Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images

Karim Benzema is back at former club Real Madrid in a bid to help him get over recent injury concerns.

The legendary Frenchman, who won the 2022 Ballon d'Or, joined Al Ittihad on a lucrative three-year contract last summer, sparking a mass exodus of some of European football's best players to the riches of the Middle East.

But Benzema's debut campaign in Saudi Arabia has been anything but ideal. Amid rumours of a falling out with manager Marcelo Gallardo, he has struggled to stay fit and string together a consistent run of appearances - with his absence contributing to Al Ittihad's struggles in the league.

Benzema has totalled 21 goal contributions in 29 outings - individually impressive numbers - but Al Ittihad are 30 points behind rivals Al Hilal, whose playing squad boasts the likes of Ruben Neves, Kalidou Koulibaly, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. They also have Neymar on their books, though he has played just three games after succumbing to an ACL tear in October.

Now, in a bid to cure Benzema of his injury problems, Al Ittihad have confirmed that the 36-year-old has returned to Madrid for further treatment.

The only striker of his generation to win Ballon d'Or.

Monsieur Karim Benzema. 👆 pic.twitter.com/SPROlyGhXQ

— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) April 26, 2024

"Karim Benzema is undergoing further examinations in Real Madrid's clinic with his former doctor in Spain, who supervised his care in previous years," Al Ittihad wrote in a statement.

"The consultations were arranged between Ittihad's medical teams and Real Madrid regarding Benzema's injuries, which caused him to miss key matches this season. Benzema has already left for Spain and is expected to return next week."

Benzema's storied 14-year Real Madrid tenure saw him win every available honour in the game, topped off by his Ballon d'Or success in 2022. That honour was bestowed upon him after an incredible 2021/22 campaign saw score 44 goals en route to winning a La Liga, Champions League and Club World Cup treble, as well as the Pichichi Trophy (the award for most goals scored in La Liga).

He'd already won four Champions Leagues prior to those successes, including three in a row under the management of Zinedine Zidane.