<div style="text-align: justify; "><b style="font-size: 1rem;">Karim Benzema and Lionel Messi are expected to move to Saudi Arabia, reports said on Sunday after the ex-France attacker's departure from Real Madrid was confirmed.</b><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Saudi state television channel Al-Ekhbariya claimed 35-year-old Benzema had signed with Jeddah-based Al-Ittihad.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Senior officials from Al Hilal have flown to France to try and seal a deal for Messi after the 35-year-old played his last game for Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">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 style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Messi arrived in Paris two seasons ago from Barcelona but was unable to help PSG win an elusive Champions League title, as the club suffered last-16 defeats in both campaigns with the Argentine maestro.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Benzema and Messi are in line to join Cristiano Ronaldo in the Gulf kingdom after the Portugal attacker moved to Al Nassr from Manchester United following last year's World Cup.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">According to Al-Ekhbariya, the president of Saudi champions Al-Ittihad and his deputy were in the Spanish capital "to officially sign" Benzema in a "record transfer with Real Madrid".</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The broadcaster said Benzema had agreed a two-year deal with the club, based on the Red Sea shores of the Gulf kingdom.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Benzema scored a penalty in his final Madrid game as they drew 1-1 with Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Over the past week, Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti -- as well as Benzema himself -- had said the striker would not leave his contract at Santiago Bernabeu early, with one year left of it to run.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Benzema 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 style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Leaving Lyon -</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Benzema joined Madrid in 2009 from Ligue 1 side and hometown outfit Lyon.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Benzema established himself as a key player alongside Ronaldo and Gareth Bale in the vaunted "BBC" attacking trident, before developing into the team's leader when the Portugal striker left in 2018.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He is Real Madrid's second top scorer of all-time, with 354 goals for Spaniard, behind only Ronaldo on 450.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Benzema battled with Gonzalo Higuain for a regular starting spot in his early days at Madrid, and was once derided by then-coach Jose Mourinho for being a "cat" instead of the "hunting dog" he wanted.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">While playing alongside Ronaldo, Benzema took the role of supplier and worked hard to provide for his team-mate.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The forward greatly increased his goal output after Ronaldo left, playing centrally, and scored 44 in 46 games last season, a performance that earned him the 2022 Ballon d'Or.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Benzema's most recent conquest was the Copa del Rey in May, with Real Madrid beating Osasuna to lift the title for the first time since 2014.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Benzema may cherish last season's Champions League triumph the most of all his successes because he played a crucial role in winning it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The forward scored a stunning hat-trick to help Madrid come from behind against Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16 and progress.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Benzema netted another treble at Stamford Bridge in the quarter-finals against Chelsea and scored the extra-time goal in the second leg which sent his team into the semi-finals.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The forward also scored three goals over two games against Pep Guardiola's Manchester City to help Madrid reach the final, which they won against Liverpool in Paris -- his first Champions League triumph as the team's figurehead. AFP</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>