Breakdown of Karim Benzema shows unreal amount of money he's earning in Saudi Arabia

Karim Benzema has been announced as the latest player to join the Saudi Pro League revolution and the Ballon d'Or winner will be earning millions.

It's been quite the week for sport in Saudi Arabia with news that the Public Investment Fund had bought the country's four biggest football teams, to go along with their ownership of Newcastle United.

The fund which also owns the controversial LIV Golf tour has now completed a huge merger along with the PGA and the DP World Tours, having previously been at war with them.

Following their buying of the clubs in the Saudi Pro League they are setting about trying to add to Cristiano Ronaldo as the league's headline act.

Benzema only announced last week that he would be leaving Real Madrid after 14 years at the club, despite having a year left on his deal.

The current holder of the Ballon d'Or had been increasingly linked to a move to the Middle East and it was confirmed on Tuesday that he'd signed for champions Al Ittihad.

He has signed a three year deal with the team who finished five points clear of Ronaldo's Al Nassr side and will reportedly earn an incredible $643 million over that time.

That works out at £471,000 every time the moon rotates around the earth, or a day, £19,643 each hour and £327 every 60 seconds.

It's no wonder Benzema is smiling. Image: Alamy

On signing for his new club, the 35-year-old said: "I am excited to experience a new football league in a different country.

"I have been fortunate to achieve amazing things in my career and achieve everything I can in Spain and Europe

"It now feels the time is right for a new challenge and project. I am looking forward to joining my new team-mates and, together with them, help take this amazing club and the game in Saudi Arabia to new levels."

His former Real teammate Ronaldo had signed for Al Nassr in January, after being released by Manchester United at the beginning of the World Cup.

The five time Ballon d'Or winner had claimed he wanted to stay in Europe but was left short of options and had a huge offer to leave the continent.

Lionel Messi is also strongly being linked with a move to join the pair in Saudi Arabia, with offers for N'Golo Kante, Wilfried Zaha and David de Gea also rumoured.

Topics: Karim Benzema, La Liga, Real Madrid, Saudi Arabia, Saudi Pro League, Football

Ryan Sidle

Ryan is a journalist for SPORTbible with over eight years of experience. Passionate about all sports, he mainly covers football and F1 - Daniel Ricciardo once spent an entire interview referring to him as 'Ryan Gosling,' still his proudest moment.

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