Benzema reveals how Florentino signed him for Real Madrid

During an interview with Jorge Valdano, Karim Benzema revealed the way in which Florentino Perez convinced him to play at Real Madrid.

Karim Benzema has always been Florentino Perez’s favorite at Real Madrid. The French striker was sought after by the president personally and convinced him to play for Los Blancos when he was still at Lyon. But we never knew the details of his high profile arrival to Madrid, until today.

Benzema shared the details of the say when he spoke directly with Florentino about his imminent arrival and how he was sold on the deal. He revealed everything during an interview with Jorge Valdano, during his own program on Movistar +. Benzema spoke about how he didn’t have a grasp of how important Real Madrid was as a club.

Much like it happened with Zidane, Perez got to convince Benzema without even signing a contract first. The president was completely convinced that Karim would become a legend at the club. Cut to today, and Benzema already scored 250 goals with Los Blancos.

How the meeting happened.

During the time Benzema was still a Lyon player, he was young and restless. There was a moment when his family called him and he thought it was a prank.

“My mind wasn’t aware of what it means to play at Real Madrid, the people, the pressure, the city,” said Karim in the interview picked up by Diario AS. “I was alone, I didn’t speak Spanish. It was difficult. If you don’t feel well outside the pitch, feeling well inside is very difficult. That’s what happened to me during the first year.

“My friends, my family, and my agents told me that I needed to get home. I said I couldn’t make it but they insisted, they told me Florentino Perez was there. I opened the door and I saw him. I remember him telling me if I could give him my word… and I told him ‘yes’.

“A striker needs to know how to do many things, not just score goals. I can score a goal, but I think it’s a problem if I don’t touch the ball in 90 minutes.”