Benzema admits he expected to retire at Madrid, but...

Real Madrid said farewell to Karim Benzema for the final time on Tuesday afternoon, as the French is about to depart after 14 years spent at the Santiago Bernabeu. Benzema was sent off by Florentino Perez during an event attended by a variety of the Real Madrid hierarchy.

Perez thanked for him for his commitment, noting that Benzema arrived at Real Madrid 'basically as a kid', and leaves it is a legend.

"You’re already eternal," Perez said of Benzema.

The pair have been close since Benzema arrived to the Spanish capital in 2009.

"Thank you very much to Real Madrid. It was a good journey in my life. I have been lucky to fulfil my dream as a child thanks to the president," said the Frenchman, before adding: "When I saw you I said, 'he is the man who has brought Ronaldo and Zidane'. He is incredible. Today it's time to go and see another story. The most important thing for me is that everything I've won I've enjoyed like a kid. As I said in my presentation 'one, two and three, hala Madrid!"

He did note that he had originally intended to retire at Bernabeu, but that another opportunity caught his eye.

"Thanks also to Carlo Ancelotti, who gave me his confidence from the beginning. I've learned a lot with you. It's a bit sad because I'm leaving my club. I signed for Madrid and I wanted to retire here, but it hasn't been like that. I always be a Madrid fan. Thanks also to the fans for always giving me that strength. Thank you all, truly."

Benzema is reportedly headed to Al Ittihad in Saudi Arabia for hundreds of millions on offer for him.