Real Madrid News
Benzema recieved official Saudi offer last week, Real Madrid want him to stay
There has been a bit of confusion surrounding the future of Karim Benzema lately. The forward was expected to sign a renewal at Real Madrid until 2024. But the player is now considering a potential move away from Santiago Bernabeu at the end of the season.
The speculations linking Benzema with an exit from Real Madrid came shortly after he received a lucrative offer from Saudi Arabia, worth up to €200 million for two years, along with other benefits, including the creation of schools for children.
According to Fabrizio Romano, the offer from Saudi Arabia came last week, just before the game against Sevilla.
Real Madrid were quick to figure out that the forward is considering taking up the offer instead of continuing at Santiago Bernabeu. It must be mentioned that there have been a few questions raised over Benzema’s fitness and commitment to the team this season.
But those questions have mostly been quashed by the club and its coaching staff, who are keen on keeping hold of Benzema. The player is currently discussing his future with his camp and family.
Real Madrid have been informed of the situation and are still ready to offer him a contract extension until 2024, should the Frenchman opt to stay at the Bernabeu for one more year.
Benzema’s potential exit, though, could force the club to go after a new striker in the upcoming summer transfer window. They have been linked with a move for Tottenham superstar Harry Kane, but negotiating with Daniel Levy is proving to be an obstacle.
Real Madrid, therefore, will prefer Benzema to stay till 2024 when the club are expected to go after either Erling Haaland or Kylian Mbappe.
Bernardo Silva was one of Real Madrid’s headline signings last summer. The Portuguese midfielder arrived on a free transfer from Manchester City and appeared destined to become the creative successor to Toni Kroos and Luka Modric in the middle of the park.
Indeed, with the club having not signed a new central midfielder, many within Real Madrid saw the veteran star as a solution to the issue.
Manager Jose Mourinho made him a starter from the very beginning in pre-season, but not in his usual role on the right. Instead, he deployed his compatriot as a deep-lying playmaker in the midfield double pivot.
A change in circumstances
Silva failed to have the expected influence when operating in a deeper role in midfield in the chances he got.
Combined with the emergence of Arda Guler and Aurelien Tchouameni’s return to fitness, the Portuguese international has now lost his place in the starting line-up and dropped to the bench.
Bernardo’s situation became particularly striking against Villarreal this past Saturday at the Santiago Bernabeu, when he did not play a single minute.
Limited opportunities under Mourinho
Bernardo has played six matches for Real Madrid, starting three and coming on as a substitute in another three.
He did not feature against Villarreal or Elche, while his only appearance in the last three matches was a little over 10 minutes against Atletico Madrid. He was not used regularly by the Portugal national team during the international break either.
Across Real Madrid’s eight La Liga fixtures, Silva has accumulated just 282 minutes of playing time.
The Champions League now presents another opportunity for the former Manchester City captain, who has yet to make his European debut for Real Madrid this season.
He missed the match against Inter Milan because he was still serving a suspension carried over from his time at the Etihad Stadium last season.
It remains to be seen whether Mourinho will give him an opportunity against AS Roma in the coming week.
For now, the midfielder’s reduced playing time suggests that the Portuguese coach has lost some of his faith in a player who arrived with high expectations after leaving Manchester City.
