FILE PHOTO:Saudi Arabian soccer team Al Ittihad player Karim Benzema arrives in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in this handout photo obtained by Reuters June 7, 2023.
"When the football project started here, it seemed like a huge project in all respects, and I wanted to be a part of it and help advance the game in Saudi Arabia, and this is one of the reasons that made me come here," Benzema said in an interview with the Saudi Pro League, posted on messaging platform X.
"Also, Saudi Arabia is a Muslim country and they welcomed me with open hands, and I felt loved immediately.
I am really surprised by the level in Saudi Arabia because in Europe we don't watch a lot of football matches here," the 35-year-old added.
"But now there are lots of people (in Europe) who are watching the Saudi league after many big names were brought in."
Persons:
Karim Benzema, Benzema, N'Golo Kante, Fabinho, Jota, Ittihad, Al, Ahmed El Khashab, Hatem Maher, Ed Osmond
Organizations:
Saudi Arabian soccer, Al, Reuters, REUTERS, Real Madrid, Saudi Pro League, Real, Saudi, Thomson
Locations:
Saudi, Al Ittihad, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Handout, Al, Ittihad, Mecca, Europe, Hilal