Karim Benzema has signed a new deal that will keep him at Real Madrid until 2023 with a release clause worth €1 billion.
The 33-year-old’s contract was due to expire next summer, and the La Liga giants have moved to ensure that they don’t lose their evergreen leading marksman.
Club bosses were keen to ensure there was no repeat of club legend Sergio Ramos's departure when the captain's deal expired earlier this year.
Negotiators have all but ruled out any prospect of the France forward leaving the club before the deal expires by specifying that suitors will have to pay €1 billion to sign Benzema.
The tireless talisman joined Madrid from Lyon in 2009 and has gone on to notch 281 goals in 560 appearances, making him the club's fifth-top scorer of all time.
Benzema has won the Champions League four times and a hat-trick of Liga titles among a glittering haul since arriving at Los Blancos.
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Madrid top Liga table thanks to their emphatic 4-1 victory in their first game of the season.
This article was most recently revised and updated 2 years ago
