Steve Nicol shares his thoughts on Karim Benzema's worth following a contract extension that will keep him at Real until 2021. A sensational strike from Marco Asensio and a fine volley from Karim Benzema capped off a 5-1 aggregate Super Cup win for Real Madrid.
Karim Benzema has expressed his intention to retire as a Real Madrid player but only after winning more titles with the Spanish giants.
The France international on Thursday put pen to a paper on a two-year contract extension with Los Blancos, a deal that will tie him to the Bernabeu stadium outfit until June 2021.
The new arrangement includes a release clause of €1 billion. Benzema will be past his 33rd birthday by the time his new deal with Real ends.
"This renewal represents many things for me. I'm delighted to continue my career at the best club in the world," he said in Thursday's news conference. "I'm very proud of my career here and I will continue to work in order to win more titles.
"I know that right now, I'm among the great players of Real Madrid but I have to continue. There is no better place than this one.
"I want to retire here because there is no other club like this one. This club will be my last, I think."
Benzema joined Real from Lyon for €35m in 2009 and has won 14 trophies at the Bernabeu stadium, including three Champions League crowns and two La Liga titles.
He is the eighth most prolific goal scorer in the club's history having with 181 goals in 371 official games.
"A striker is not just goals," he said. "You have to take part in the play, open spaces, create assists. Here the level of demand is maximum.
"I know what it is like, I know that there is a lot of criticism when you are at this club. This is because people expect a lot from me. Each day I work harder to be at my best for this club."
The 29-year-old, who is currently recovering from a hamstring injury, is hoping to have a strong season for Real and to return to the national team fold.
Benzema has not played for France since October 2015 after initially being suspended by the French Football Federation (FFF) due to his reported involvement in the alleged extortion of France teammate Mathieu Valbuena.
He has not given up hope of playing for Les Bleus again.
"I'm a competitor and I like it when I'm called up to the national team," he said. "When my teammates go to their respective national teams and I stay, it's tough.
"I know I have to do my job well in order to return soon to the national team. I always think I will return. You can never give up. But it's not an obsession."
Adriana Garcia is a Valencia-based football writer who covers La Liga for ESPN FC.
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Source: espn.co.uk