Real Madrid News
Real Madrid suspect Benzema thinking about exit amid €200 million Saudi Arabia offer
Although we are approaching the season’s end, Real Madrid are yet to officiate the contract of their star player Karim Benzema.
The forward’s contract at Santiago Bernabeu expires at the end of the season. Although several reports had claimed that Real Madrid already have a verbal agreement with the striker, there appears to be reluctance in officiating the deal.
And according to a recent report from Alfredo Matilla, Real Madrid now believe Benzema is considering an exit from Santiago Bernabeu at the end of the season, in favour of a move to Saudi Arabia this summer.
Fresh doubts over the future of Benzema come in the midst of an offer from the Saudi Arabian government, who are ready to offer the Real Madrid striker a whopping €200 million along with other benefits.
Indeed, the Saudi government are willing to offer Benzema €200 million over a two-year period. They are also offering him image rights, advertising and even the creation of schools for children.
Benzema was also absent from the Real Madrid squad against Getafe. His substandard performances against Manchester City in the Champions League semifinal have also led to questions over his commitment to the team.
The club, therefore, fear the Frenchman is strongly considering offers from Saudi Arabia. It must be mentioned that the Middle East is offering all players to earn salaries with full tax exemption, meaning the player won’t have to pay any tax on the €200 million wage.
This lucrative offer is now keeping Real Madrid on edge as they patiently wait for Benzema’s decision. The club have kickstarted the process of finding a reliable alternative in the transfer market, though, with Harry Kane emerging as one of many options for Los Blancos.
With the football awards season almost upon us, Tuttosport has released the list of the Top 25 finalists for the 2026 Golden Boy Award.
The prize recognises the best Under-21 player at a European club, and two Real Madrid stars have made the cut for the final 25 candidates for this year.
Indeed, summer signing Yan Diomande, who joined the club from RB Leipzig in a mammoth €140 million deal, features on the list, currently occupying the fourth place in the rankings.
The 19-year-old Ivorian winger had an impressive breakthrough season at Leipzig in 2025/26 and is growing in stature at Real Madrid in recent weeks, earning him a nomination for the prize.
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝟐𝟓 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐒 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄! We present the 𝟐𝟓 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐆𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐁𝐨𝐲, the award celebrating the best U21 players competing in European football leagues https://t.co/9wpeiW48RV
— Golden Boy (@GoldenBoyAwards) October 5, 2026
The second Real Madrid player on the list happens to be Endrick, who excelled during his loan spell at Olympique Lyon during the second half of the 2025/26 campaign.
As things stand, however, FC Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsi is the frontrunner for the Golden Boy Award, followed by Ayyoub Bouaddi of Manchester City and Warren Zaire-Emery of Paris Saint-Germain.
The final list also includes Victor Froholdt (Porto), Rayan (Bournemouth), Jorrel Hato (Chelsea), Estevao (Chelsea), Lennart Karl (Bayern Munich), Luka Vuskovic (Brighton), Jon Martin (Real Sociedad), and Eli Junior Kroupi (Bournemouth), among others.
Also featuring is Real Madrid’s defensive target for the summer Finn Jeltsch of VfB Stuttgart, while Barcelona duo Xavi Espart and Marc Bernal also make the cut.
