Karim Benzema reveals Real Madrid challenge he set after Cristiano Ronaldo’s shock transfer to Juventus – with fearsome ‘BBC’ strike force being broken up

French striker Benzema moved to Santiago Bernabeu in the same summer as CR7 back in 2009, as Blancos president Florentino Perez indulged in another ‘Galactico’ spending spree. He registered just nine goals in his debut campaign, while Ronaldo plundered 33.

In 2013, Real broke the world transfer record again when signing Gareth Bale from Tottenham – presenting Benzema with even more competition in the attacking department. Alongside the Welsh winger, he would go on to form the fearsome ‘BBC’ strike force that landed La Liga and Champions League titles.

Ronaldo surprisingly broke that unit up when heading to Italy in 2018, but Benzema took his game to greater heights from there. The ex-France international has told El Chiringuito of embracing added responsibility: “It’s normal, it’s normal. Gareth Bale, €100m, it’s a lot, he was a good player too, it was normal. But this is fine with me. When Cristiano left, who had scored 50 goals, I said, ‘Now it’s time to step up and that I was going to work for it because I have the talent, but now I have to have more ambition than before’.”

Ronaldo left as Real’s all-time leading scorer, having scored 450 goals through 438 appearances. Benzema hit 162 across five seasons without the Portuguese superstar by his side, earning him a Golden Ball in 2022 before eventually moving on himself a year later as he joined CR7 in the Saudi Pro League.

Benzema added on his legacy in the Spanish capital: “I’m happy that Karim’s last image at Real Madrid is the one of a champion, a Ballon d’Or, and a captain. I had the strength to continue but I preferred to leave like this, at the right time.”

Benzema is now on the books of Al-Ittihad, with impressive individual standards being maintained at 37 years of age. He is locked in another Golden Boot battle with Ronaldo, who is still going strong at 40 with Al-Nassr.