Karim Benzema 'leaving Real Madrid' - could he be moving to Saudi Arabia?

Real Madrid star Karim Benzema has reportedly told the Spanish club that he will be leaving at the end of this season, further fuelling speculation that he could be moving to Saudi Arabia.

Benzema and head coach Carlo Ancelotti held a meeting on Wednesday which was not considered usual or part of the team’s schedule, The Athletic reported on Thursday, citing sources at Real Madrid’s training ground as saying on condition of anonymity.

The sports news site reported the sources as saying that they expected Benzema to leave after that meeting - bar the club’s board being able to change his mind.

The report comes as speculation has swirled over a potential move by Benzema - who has been a feature at Real Madrid since 2009 - to Saudi Arabia’s top-flight football league.

ESPN reported Thursday that Benzema would be leaving Real Madrid when his contract expires this month to move to Saudi club Al Ittihad - despite Real Madrid’s decision earlier this year to extend his contract with the club until 2024. 

The sports outlet had earlier this week reported that he had been offered a two-year contract with Al-Hilal that could see him earn as much as 200 million euros a year, as the Saudi Pro League looks to pinch world-class players coming up to the end of their careers.

Benzema had sought advice from former Real Madrid teammate Cristiano Ronaldo about what a move to Saudi Arabia might look like, Spanish sports news site AS reported Wednesday.

Ronaldo joined Saudi club Al Nassr in January of this year. He has had a rocky few months at the club that have reportedly had him eyeing up a quick exit from Saudi Arabia.

Al Nassr’s rival club, Al-Hilal, is looking to snap up Lionel Messi, who is leaving Paris Saint-Germain at the end of this season.

Messi is already familiar with Saudi Arabia, with a multi-million dollar deal to promote tourism to the kingdom.

Saudi Arabia has been accused of using big-money purchases to distract from its poor human rights record.