Photo: EFE/Al Ittihad/Jorge Ferrari / EFE
The French Karim Benzema affirmed today in an interview with his new club Al Ittihad that Saudi Arabia is the place where he wants to be This is motivated by the fact that he is in a Muslim country, a religious belief of which he is devoted. In addition, he explained how he wants to “elevate” Saudi football.
“Saudi Arabia is different than Europe. I had already been in Saudi Arabia and I feel good. Especially since it is a Muslim country and how can I put it…it’s beautiful. for me is where I want to be there because it is important for me to be in a Muslim country.”he said in his first interview in French after being signed by Ittihad and saying goodbye to Real Madrid, where he has been successful for 14 years.
“Why Saudi Arabia? Because I am a Muslim and it is a Muslim country, and I want to live here.” insisted the 35-year-old Frenchman of Algerian origin during the interview published on the official channels of the club based in the coastal city of Jeddah.
Benzema pointed out that Would you like to speak Arabic fluently? and also highlighted that Mecca, where he has already been, is “very close” to where he will live: “As I am a believer it is important to me and this is where I feel better and in my place”.
He indicated that when talking to his family about moving to the Arab kingdom, he said that “everyone was happy”, so they have moved to Jeddah together, something that was “important”, he stressed.
During the conversation with the club, Benzema dHe made it clear that he wants to “elevate” the name of the club, despite already being “high” given that it is the second most successful in Saudi football after Al Hilal, the one who was Leo Messi’s suitor until yesterday.
“I feel good and happy, happy to have joined this legendary club. Of course, it’s a new challenge for me, a new life and I can’t wait to start training,” said the French striker. Furthermore, he did not hide his emotion of meeting Cristiano Ronaldo, his “friend”, who was signed last December by Al Nassr.
“There are big names. There is Cristiano Ronaldo, on the one hand, and then there is me. It is important to elevate Saudi football, to have a global impact because playing in Saudi Arabia is not only that, but you have to push and teachr what I have been able to do in Europe”, he argued.
Keep reading:
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