Karim Benzema’s message to Cristiano Ronaldo was clear amid Real Madrid return rumours.
Karim Benzema, a striker for Real Madrid, has disclosed that Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure from the team in 2018 forced him to change his playing style.
The Portuguese striker left Los Blancos as the club’s all-time leading scorer with 450 goals, and he also left on a high after helping the team win its fourth Champions League championship.
Even though he is a well-regarded striker in his own right, Benzema was mostly viewed as Ronaldo’s support during the latter parts of his Real career. This is arguably best demonstrated by the fact that Benzema scored just 12 goals in 47 games in the 2017–18 campaign.
However, Benzema has rekindled his career and is highly anticipated to win this year’s Ballon d’Or after leading Real to Champions League triumph now that Ronaldo is no longer at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Before their UEFA Super Cup match against Eintracht Frankfurt, Benzema acknowledged that he had to adapt his style to account for Ronaldo’s departure.
Benzema added, “It’s true that I’ve scored a lot more goals, but when Cristiano was here, we played in a different way, and I was giving more assists.
“He was a huge assistance to me both on and off the field. However, I was aware that I was capable of more at the time, and after he went, it was time for me to alter my strategy and goals, which I am currently succeeding in achieving.”
While Benzema is having his best season of his career, Ronaldo cannot say the same because he is keen to leave Manchester United in order to play in the Champions League but is presently without a suitor.
