Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has insisted the only way the team will be able to move on Karim Benzema is by the individuals who remain stepping up to new levels.
Benzema walked away at the end of his contract this summer, choosing to join Saudi Arabian club Al Ittihad on an enormous contract before he retires. Since his depature, Madrid started pre-season well bey beating AC Milan and Manchester United, but then failed to score only once across successive defeats to Barcelona and Juventus to complete their summer schedule.
The 35-year-old had won the Ballon d’Or in 2022 and had scored 30 or more goals in four of his last five seasons with Madrid. Those numbers meant he finished last season second on the club’s all-time goalscorers list behind only Cristiano Ronaldo and ahead of Raul and Alfredo Di Stefano.
Benzema has not been properly replaced, with only journeyman veteran Joselu arriving on loan from Espanyol boosting the number of forwards in the Madrid squad. The big summer was spent this summer on midfield, with Jude Bellingham arriving from Borussia Dortmund.
Kylian Mbappe remains the primary target up front, but a move for the 24-year-old looks infinitely more likely next year when he will be a free agent. The already signed Brazilian prodigy Endrick also won’t arrive in Spain until next summer when he turns 18 as per international transfer rules.
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In the meantime, Madrid have to go with what they already have.
"Others have to take a step forward after Karim's departure," Courtois said to Canadian broadcaster TLN. "We have great forwards like Vinicius, Rodrygo or Joselu, who brings something different. It's a team thing and we need to solve it together."
Courtois himself also doesn’t plan to move on any time soon. The Belgian has called the city of Madrid his home for eight of the last 12 years, including a previous multi-season loan spell with Atletico Madrid. He never wants to leave the Bernabeu and, at 31, his career isn’t winding down.
"Everyone knows that I am very well at Real Madrid and that my wish is to retire here," he said. "But I want to go year after year improving and helping to the team."
This article was originally published on 90min as Thibaut Courtois explains how Real Madrid will move on from Karim Benzema.