<div><span style="font-size: 1rem;"><b>Real Madrid's Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema has signed for Saudi Arabia's Al-Ittihad for three years starting next season, a source in the Jeddah-based club told AFP on Tuesday.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>"Benzema has signed a contract for his transfer to Al-Ittihad for a three-year period starting next season," the source said.</div><div><br></div><div>The announcement comes days after Real Madrid announced that the 35-year-old was leaving the club after 14 seasons, the day after coach Carlo Ancelotti had said there was "no doubt" Benzema's future was in the Spanish capital.</div><div><br></div><div>Benzema is in line to join Cristiano Ronaldo in the Gulf kingdom after the Portuguese five-time world player of the year moved to Al Nassr from Manchester United following last year's World Cup.</div><div><br></div><div>Lionel Messi, who is leaving Paris Saint-Germain after two seasons, has also been linked to a move to Saudi Arabia.</div><div><br></div><div>Senior officials from Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal have flown to France to try and seal a deal for Messi after the 35-year-old Argentinian played his last game for PSG at the weekend.</div><div><br></div><div>The Saudi delegation plans to meet Messi's father and agent, Jorge, with the aiming of completing the signing as soon as possible, sources told AFP on Sunday.</div><div><br></div><div>Benzema joined Madrid in 2009 from Ligue 1 side Lyon.</div><div><br></div><div>He made 647 appearances for Madrid and is the second on Real's all-time goalscoring list with 353 -- only Cristiano Ronaldo has more.</div><div><br></div><div>He has lifted five Champions Leagues, four La Liga titles and three Copas del Rey with Madrid and is the holder of the Ballon d'Or for the world's best player.</div><div><br></div><div>But after a stellar 2021-22 season when he lead Real to the Champions League, he has been troubled by injuries in the just-completed season and had to miss France's World Cup campaign with a thigh problem. - AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>