Real Madrid extend Karim Benzema’s contract and insert €1bn release clause

Karim Benzema has signed a new contract with Real Madrid, which will keep him at the club until 2023.

The France forward's contract was set to end next summer, but after losing club captain Sergio Ramos to PSG when his contract expired earlier this year, the club has taken steps to ensure Benzema's contract does not expire. The deal for the 33-year-old includes a €1 billion release clause.

Benzema has made 560 appearances for Real in all competitions since signing in 2009, and is the club's seventh all-time leading goalscorer with 281.

During his time at the Santiago Bernabéu, he has also won four Champions League titles and three La Liga titles.

In the meantime, Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman has slammed Ilaix Moriba over his contract dispute with the club. The Guinean-born Spain youth international made his debut for Barca in the second half of last season, appearing in 14 La Liga games.

However, with less than a year left on his present contract, negotiations for a renewal have come to a halt, and Koeman has not been hesitant in expressing his displeasure with the situation.

“I spoke to him two or three weeks ago, more as a person than as the Barça coach,” Koeman stated.“He’s in a horrible situation, for me. He’s 18, he’s young, he’s had the chance to play in the first team and is the future of the club. But he’s now in a situation where he’s not going to play.

“I know what the club want to offer the player. My advice would be that money isn’t everything - it’s playing games. The player and his people think differently and that’s disappointing for me. It’s not the most important thing.”

Moriba has been connected with a number of Europe's biggest teams in recent weeks, and club president Joan Laporta stated earlier this month that the club will not be kept hostage.

“He has a year left and doesn’t want to renew. It’s a situation we don’t accept and we have to act,” Laporta stated. “He’s been given opportunities, but the club is above everyone. I feel bad that he doesn’t recognise what we’ve done for him. We won’t let him leave for free.”

Philippe Coutinho will stay at Barcelona, according to Koeman.

“He can be important for Barca. He was in the team last season but got injured - however I’m telling you, he’s in my plans this term”, the Dutchman stated. “He can play in various positions, and we’ve lost goals with the departure of [Lionel] Messi and need to find them somewhere else. Philippe is an option in that sense.”

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