Karim Benzema had planned to retire at Real Madrid

Karim Benzema has claimed that he planned to retire at Real Madrid but said that "things do not always happen", with the striker officially completing a move to Al-Ittihad.

The striker had appeared set to sign a new one-year contract extension at Bernabeu before leaving the Spanish giants on a free transfer in the summer of 2024.

However, the 35-year-old ultimately decided to depart Los Blancos at the end of the 2022-23 season, with his farewell appearance coming against Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.

Benzema has signed a three-year deal with Saudi Arabian champions Al-Ittihad, who are managed by former Wolverhampton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur head coach Nuno Espirito Santo.

The Frenchman has revealed that he had initially planned to end his career in the Spanish capital but was unable to turn down the opportunity to make a big-money switch to Saudi Arabia.

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"Hello everyone. It's difficult to talk now. I want to thank everyone. Thank you Presi for bringing me here. I'll never forget. Real Madrid is the greatest. But now it's time to leave," Benzema said at his farewell event in Madrid.

"This is a sad day. I leave my club. I have always said I would have retired here but things do not always happen. I will always watch Real Madrid games and support the team. I'm who I am because of this club, thank you very much.

"Real Madrid will always be my family. Many thanks to the president. I have been able to realise my dream. I will never forget Real Madrid because it is the best club in the world and in history.

"It was a good path in my life. I was lucky enough to fulfill a childhood dream thanks to the president. When I saw you I said 'he's the man who brought Ronaldo [Nazario] and [Zinedine] Zidane'. It's unbelievable.

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"Today it's time for me to leave and to write another story. The most important thing for me is that everything I've won I've enjoyed as a child."

Benzema also thanked Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti, who managed the striker during two separate spells at the helm.

"Thanks also to Ancelotti, who gave me his confidence from the beginning," Benzema added. "I have learned a lot with you. It's a bit of a sad day because I'm leaving my club."

Real Madrid had allegedly not been expecting to lose the Frenchman this summer, with Ancelotti admitting on Sunday that the forward's decision to depart was 'a surprise'.

Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane is said to be Real Madrid's main target to replace their second-highest goalscorer of all time, although it remains to be seen whether Spurs are willing to let the England captain leave, with Manchester United also being strongly linked with his services.