Perucho21 wrote: Out of all of BBC and MSN no one believed he would win anything significant yet he won a BDO before Neymar Suarez and Bale.

To me hes the best 9 of his generation. But I know will tell me "wElL sUaReZ aNd lEwA" none of them completed an insane carry job to a league and CL titles and won a BDO (although Lewa should've)

Lewa is a tapin merchant but Suarez is debatable. I think Benzema has the edge though, he's done it all as a DM which is quite a feat.

I think the adaptability of Benzema gives him the edge over all the other 9s in his generation.  He played around CR7... and even around both CR7 and Bale for a couple of years... while maintaining his impact.   It was hard for the casual fan to understand what he was doing those years because he was the second or third option in terms of scoring.  

He stayed to win team trophies and sacrificed personal recognition.

Once he was the main guy, we all saw what he could do... although it was in his 30s.

One will always wonder what kind of impact he would have had if he was given the alpha role in his prime as opposed to late in his career.  He's considered legendary and the best for his generation regardless...  he may have gotten consideration as the goat 9 perhaps.   We'll never know.

Benzema on his future:  "My future?  I'm here in Madrid right now.  Reality isn't the internet."

I would honestly have to agree with Linetty, the convo of best 9 between Benzema and Suarez is genuinely debatable. I would obviously go with Benzema because duh and Sports' part of adaptability is also a huge plus but I could see the argument for Suarez as well.

Personally, if there is a good time for Benz to leave Madrid, it'll be now. The man had the perfect redemption arc and would leave Madrid on a proper high as one of the clubs greatest players. And to definitely add salt to the cake, would depart in the most polar opposite way compared to Cristiano's departure.

Benz had another 2 years left of top football in him. Why go for early retirement?

His body is breaking down. He played less than 50% of our games this season. Bet he knows it too and can't wait to have surgery on that pinky finger

BarrileteCosmico wrote:Benz had another 2 years left of top football in him. Why go for early retirement?

He's made 146 million gross his entire career (Lyon and Madrid). He's being offered 200 million net over 2 years. One of those things you can't ignore.

Official

He's gone

Karim Benzema will earn €200m a year in Saudi Arabia. His move to Al-Ittihad will be announced NEXT WEEK. @SPORT1 pic.twitter.com/uJHBZZOstq

— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) June 4, 2023

BarrileteCosmico wrote:Benz had another 2 years left of top football in him. Why go for early retirement?

he would have been the biggest idiot of all time if he chose to ignore the kind of money he is being offered. the man already sacrificed a chance at the world cup by playing games for madrid when he was injured and it caught up to him. there's no way he will sacrifice his family's future again for madrid who might have even asked him to leave sooner rather than later.

sports has a timeline, if you turn this deal down now, there is zero guarantee you will get this type of offer in 6 months, let alone 12. he has done more than enough for madrid. i'm glad he didnt let emotions or fools gold such as "retire a madrid legend" cloud his decision making. he is a legend of the club regardless of whether he retires at madrid or in Saudi Arabia.

It’s a relief as a barca fan. Benzema was a menace. Him and Modric are nearly irreplaceable like Messi and Xavi

sportsczy wrote:Benzema on his future:  "My future?  I'm here in Madrid right now.  Reality isn't the internet."

Turns out reality is indeed internet

Myesyats wrote:

sportsczy wrote:Benzema on his future:  "My future?  I'm here in Madrid right now.  Reality isn't the internet."

Turns out reality is indeed internet

lol

Is it me or do u also feel its kinda sad seeing all these top stars going to a nothing league that nobody watches? I know most of these past it stars naturally do that but those leagues at least there were some level n sometimes we actually see them, but honestly never n know nothing about these ME leagues...

its life, another superstar will arrive who people will watch. Cristiano and messi are not playing in la liga anymore and though the league has taken some hit, there are not cries for them to return (well some barca fans are crying for messi, but that's another issue). point is, some other stars will come up and barring the present vs past debates that we have in sports, fans will move on...except for those who for whatever reason are largely invested in the player, that they'll watch highlights of them in the Saudi league.

Agreed.  This pretty much ends my watching Benzema at all past today's game.  Not a competition that I'm interested in.

Very interesting how Real Madrid is going to replace Benzema.   There's nothing available near his level, with all due respect to Kane.  Forget the goals for a second... we don't have playmakers in the midfield.  He did a fair bit of that too.

So his departure not only requires another great scorer but also a midfield creator.  Bellingham fits that, if it happens.

lol Kane is the perfect Benzema replacement. He's actually coming off a better season than Benz

El Gunner wrote:lol Kane is the perfect Benzema replacement. He's actually coming off a better season than Benz

Different leagues.  Kane is a "mini-me" version of Benzema.  That's not a knock on Kane btw.  Benzema is that good.

laughable

We'll see.

Kane seems like the perfect replacement but I still have nightmares after the last years of Bale. Lucky for Kane, this group of RM players have alot of players speaking english and there aren't any scary types like Ramos and CR7 around that would make you tip toe around Valdebebas.

Though I still prefer speed with the group we have acquired now but we can't be picky. I'll take Kane no questions asked. The other names don't excite me at all.

If we can get Havertz as the Asensio replacement I think that'll be an upgrade eventhough Asensio is a better goalscorer but I think Havertz is better at everything else.

Also if we can add Firminho and Joselu for that CF positions our frontline will be pretty set for next season.

Then there is the elephent in the room aka the backline. We need new RB and LB. So far we are just being linked with LBs but no RBs yet.

If you're comparing this year's Benzema to Kane, sure.   Kane is comparable to this year's Benzema.  

But Real Madrid need a player of the caliber of Benzema from the previous 4 years.  His body broke down this season and our team level dropped and game quality dropped.

I don't think it's fair to Kane if he comes frankly.  Keep in mind that Benzema ended up as:
-  2nd all-time scorer
-  Best assist man ever

This despite playing as a servant to Ronaldo until he left 5 years ago.  Imagine what it would have been if he was the number 1 option earlier in his Real Madrid career.

So in short, Kane of course... but with a more mature Vini and Rodrygo + Kai Havertz + Bellingham. Kane can't carry the attack like Benzema did.

Benzema best RM goals:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDMKVlNl5Rg

Benzema best RM assists:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jA-NXuID-AA

sportsczy wrote:
So in short, Kane of course... but with a more mature Vini and Rodrygo + Kai Havertz + Bellingham. Kane can't carry the attack like Benzema did.

and why should he? of course preferably you would want a more stacked set of attacking players around you, but all i'm saying is if you want someone to replace Benzema then you will find no one more perfect than Kane for the job.

Benzema isn't a unicorn type of player that is beyond irreplaceable. Kane may not ever reach his European accomplishments, but pound for pound he can give Benzema a run for his money in terms of productivity and play style.

i don't think there's any other option besides Kane, that's basically the hole we've dug ourselves into. i have no issues with kane but until signing and performances, the club will be thinking they messed up as last year he wasn't their first nor second choice. the money you were saving you end up using to sign someone who wasnt your first nor second choice. i think he's a good player especially considering the club he plays for.