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Real Madrid: Is Karim Benzema’s Time Coming to an End?

By Ahmed Genina

Real Madrid's French forward Karim Benzema (2nd R) celebrates a goal with teammates during the Spanish league football match between Real Madrid CF and Athletic Club Bilbao at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on October 23, 2016. / AFP / CURTO DE LA TORRE (Photo credit should read CURTO DE LA TORRE/AFP/Getty Images)
Real Madrid's French forward Karim Benzema (2nd R) celebrates a goal with teammates during the Spanish league football match between Real Madrid CF and Athletic Club Bilbao at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on October 23, 2016. / AFP / CURTO DE LA TORRE (Photo credit should read CURTO DE LA TORRE/AFP/Getty Images) /
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VIGO, SPAIN - JANUARY 25: Jonny Castro of Celta de Vigo competes for the ball with Karim Benzema of Real Madrid during the Copa del Rey quarter-final second leg match between Real Club Celta de Vigo and Real Madrid Club de Futbol at Municipal de Balaidos stadium on January 25, 2017 in Vigo, Spain. (Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images)
VIGO, SPAIN – JANUARY 25: Jonny Castro of Celta de Vigo competes for the ball with Karim Benzema of Real Madrid during the Copa del Rey quarter-final second leg match between Real Club Celta de Vigo and Real Madrid Club de Futbol at Municipal de Balaidos stadium on January 25, 2017 in Vigo, Spain. (Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images) /

Problem of the season

So what happened to Karim Benzema this year?

He is having a clear drop in form, something that happens to all players in the world. This season though, what didn’t save him from the critics is that he failed to have any superb performances throughout the season.

Also part of Benzema’s below par performances could be attributed to the return of competition once again. In summer 2013, there was a rumor that Jose Mourinho theorized that Benzema performed better when not exposed to competition on his position. In Mourinho’s time it was in the form of Gonzalo Higuain. Now it’s Alvaro Morata.

Not to mention that the continuous comparisons between him and Luis Suarez are another form of competition. With Suarez’s current form and Ronaldo-esque numbers last season supporting him in such comparisons, the Frenchman is simply dwarfed.

Still, how is it that Benzema should’ve left the Bernabeu long ago when his numbers are equal to other first tier forwards, despite him not being the team’s main goal scorer, and his intangible role is of great importance to the team?

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