Real Madrid legend Karim Benzema eyes move to MLS: – Business News
Former Real Madrid star Karim Benzema is eyeing a move to Major League Soccer, sources close to the participant have instructed The Post.
The 37-year-old Ballon d’Or winner is presently enjoying for the megabucks Saudi Pro League leaders Al-Ittihad, the place he earns simply over $110 million a yr tax-free after leaving Spain in 2023.
Allies of the previous French worldwide mentioned Benzema is plotting a move stateside forward of subsequent yr’s World Cup and has employed high New York immigration lawyer Michael Wildes to secure a US visa.
Wildes, who represented First Lady Melania Trump and her household, known as Benzema “one of the greatest strikers of all time.”
He declined to touch upon which visa Benzema was making use of for, citing shopper confidentiality, however the star’s former Les Bleus teammate Olivier Giroud landed a P-1 work allow earlier than becoming a member of MLS outfit LAFC.
Benzema picked up 25 titles during his 14-year stint with Real Madrid, scoring 354 targets in 648 video games for Los Blancos. AFP through Getty Images
Free-scoring Benzema has netted 19 occasions in 27 appearances this season for his title-chasing Saudi Pro League facet. REUTERS
The move could be a blow to title-chasing Al-Ittihad, the place the celebrity participant has contributed 19 targets and 9 assists in 27 begins for the Jeddah-based membership.
The Post has approached an MLS spokesperson for remark. The Saudi-based star’s French lawyer didn’t reply to a request for remark.
Big-earning Benzema will fill up a Designated Player spot at whichever membership he joins. The regulation, additionally dubbed the Beckham rule, permits an MLS franchise to signal up to three gamers outdoors a membership’s wage cap.
The striker joined Real Madrid from French facet Lyon in 2009 and gained 5 Champions Leagues and 4 La Liga titles with Los Blancos.
Benzema made 648 appearances for the Spanish giants and scored 354 targets in his 14-year spell with the membership.
Top lawyer Wildes represented First Lady Melania Trump and her household. Courtesy of Michael Wildes
It locations him second of their all-time goalscoring record behind Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo, who joined Saudi rivals Al-Nassr from Manchester United.
The free-scoring ahead can be the joint first most-decorated Real Madrid participant of all time, alongside Brazil’s Marcelo successful 25 main honors.
Among his different titles had been 5 Club World Cups and three Copa del Rey triumphs.
He fulfilled a lifelong dream of being awarded the Ballon d’Or on the age of 34, turning into the oldest winner of essentially the most prestigious accolade within the sport since England’s Stanley Matthews in 1956.
Karim Benzema picked up the celebrated Ballon d’Or award in 2022 after an unbelievable haul of 44 targets in 46 video games for his former membership, Real Madrid. Xinhua News Agency through Getty Images
It has been introduced yearly by French magazine France Football with high journalists from internationally voting to select their participant of the yr.
Benzema scored 37 occasions in 97 appearances for France however missed the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after choosing up a thigh damage in coaching the day earlier than it began.
He retired from worldwide responsibility aged 35, simply someday after Les Bleus misplaced towards Argentina on penalties within the World Cup ultimate.
The Lyon-born striker made his worldwide debut in 2007, enjoying on the European Championship in 2008 and 2012 and on the 2014 World Cup.
The frontman ended up being omitted from the subsequent two main match squads over a blackmail and sex-tape scandal earlier than being recalled by national coach Didier Deschamps for Euro 2020.
Benzema was ultimately handed a one-year suspended jail sentence and a high-quality of 75,000 euros ($80,000) by a French court docket in 2021, convicting him of involvement in an attempt to blackmail France teammate Mathieu Valbuena in 2015.
He was additionally ordered to pay ex-Marseille winger Valbuena 80,000 euros ($90,000) in damages.
