Benzema opens door to Real Madrid return and explains frosty Ronaldo reunion

KARIM BENZEMA is not ruling out making a sensational return to Real Madrid – on one condition.

The striker has made a positive start to the new season, scoring five goals in nine appearances for Saudi Pro League big-spenders Al-Ittihad.

But Benzema has opened the door for a move back to Real Madrid in the final stages of his career.

The Frenchman found the back of the net 354 times for the LaLiga heavyweights, while he also became a five-time Champions League winner during a trophy-laden spell at the Bernabeu.

And Benzema has revealed that he will consider heading back to Real Madrid if Florentino Perez remains president of the club.

Speaking to Spanish media outlet AS, he said: “If Florentino is still there, it could happen, it could happen. I talk to him and it’s possible.

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“I’m a Real Madrid fan. I feel it in my soul. Madrid is still my city, I feel like a Real Madrid fan and a Madrileño. We’ll see what happens. If he’s there…”

Benzema still reckons Los Blancos are the best club in the world thanks to Perez’s influence behind the scenes.

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The 2022 Ballon d’Or winner added: “He’s the leader. He does a fantastic job, bringing in players you never thought would come. What he does with the team, with the club… He’s the best.

“It will always be my team. I still watch the games whenever I can. It’s the best club in the world. It always has been and it always will be.

“It’s a team with a lot of potential that I think can do more than it’s doing right now.”

Benzema also rubbished suggestions that he has fallen out with former Real Madrid team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo.

They appeared to have a frosty reunion when Al-Ittihad and Al-Nassr went head-to-head in the King’s Cup earlier this season.

But Benzema, 37, has insisted that he still has a strong relationship with Ronaldo.

He admitted: “We talked in the locker room. We hugged, we talked… Then on the pitch we can’t or shouldn’t do it again.

“There’s a lot of respect, we’re fine. We don’t need to teach anything. We’re good. We’ve both learned from each other.

“It seems like we have to say things or do things in front of the TV. It’s not like that.

“A lot of respect. We find it on the pitch and each of us focuses on our own game.”