Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema scored the winning goal during his debut for Saudi Champions Al-Ittihad in a 2-1 victory over Tunisian side Esperance in the Arab Club Champions Cup.
Following his angled shot from outside the box in the second half on Thursday, the Frenchman shared with the Saudi SSC television channel, “It was a strong match and a good start after hard work in preparation. Little by little we will build a great team.”
Benzema, who joined Al-Ittihad as a free agent after enjoying 14 successful years at Real Madrid, greeted the cheering fans alongside his new teammate and compatriot N’golo Kante.
He expressed, “The atmosphere is amazing, and the fans motivated the team from the first minute until the end.”
“We are in good shape, and we will continue to work hard to reach the required level. We know that with this support, we can achieve great things. Thanks to the fans,” he added.