Topics: Karim Benzema, Real Madrid, La Liga, Saudi Pro League
The Ballon d'Or holder could leave the Spanish capital this summer, and to no one's surprise, this is due to an offer from Saudi Arabia.

Despite finishing the season as Real Madrid's top scorer, Karim Benzema could be headed for a Santiago Bernabeu exit this summer!

The Frenchman, who is the Ballon d'Or holder, netted 30 goals across all competitions for Los Blancos, with 18 coming in La Liga alone. However, the Frenchman might not be in the Spanish capital come 2023/24 due to interest from – surprise, surprise – Saudi Arabia.

This is according to Relevo, with Marca also suggesting something similar. Benzema has a contract until 2024, which is due to his Ballon d'Or clause. An extension was thought to be done and dusted but the Spanish giants are hesitating over offering their striker a new deal as he seems tempted by a move to the Middle East.

As expected, the rumored offer from Saudi Arabia is lucrative. The Frenchman would pocket a whopping €200M over a two-year period, but that's not all. Favorable image rights and advertising have been offered, as well as the creation of schools for children. Additionally, Karim would stand to gain a full tax exemption on his reported €200M salary.

Furthermore, there are other question marks regarding Benzema among the Real Madrid higher-ups. While the board believes the 35-year-old can play at a high level for another year or two, his fitness has declined, with the striker picking up a handful of knocks throughout the campaign, including the one that ruled him out for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Additionally, questions have been raised regarding the Frenchman's leadership skills. Despite being the captain, he was a no-show for the clash with Getafe in mid-May when Los Merengues presented the Copa del Rey title to their home fans. Furthermore, Karim did not speak to the media following the club's embarrassing 4-0 loss away to Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League semifinal.

As a result, Real Madrid suspect their talisman forward is evaluating the offer from Saudi Arabia and is contemplating leaving the club. However, there are factors that point to him staying, namely his love for the club, Florentino Perez, and the city. The kings of Europe were eyeing a move for Joselu and Roberto Firmino to offer cover for Benzema, but a change in strategy might be needed should Karim leave the continental powerhouse.