Karim Benzema has returned to Real Madrid – at least on a temporary basis.

The forward spent 14 years in Spain as a Madrid player, winning countless titles with his accolades highlighted by a Ballon d’Or win in 2022, just months prior to his departure from the club.

He joined Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad in the summer, penning a three-year contract thought to be worth £86million-a-season, with the Frenchman joining the division champions.

All has not gone to plan so far, with Benzema already slating his team-mates and clashing with manager Marcelo Gallardo in his short stint at the club.

Currently out injured, he has returned to Spain and former side Madrid, though will return to Saudi Arabia sooner rather than later.

The reason why Karim Benzema is back at Real Madrid, despite being contracted to Al-Ittihad, has been revealed

The forward has returned to the club he spent 14 years at having been linked with a move in January

He has struggled to adapt to life in Saudi Arabia, where he reportedly earns £500,000-a-week

Benzema is with his former side to continue his rehabilitation from a muscle injury, which has kept him out of his side’s last two games.

Having scored 13 goals in 29 matches for his new side this season, the 36-year-old has missed his side’s defeats against Al-Shabab and Al-Hilal, last featuring in a 3-2 victory over Al-Hazm on April 20.

In a statement, Benzema’s current side wrote: ‘Karim Benzema is undergoing further examinations in Real Madrid’s clinic with his former doctor in Spain, who supervised his care in previous years.

‘The consultations were arranged between Ittihad’s medical teams and Real Madrid regarding Benzema’s injuries, which caused him to miss key matches this season. Benzema has already left for Spain and is expected to return next week.’

The forward had been linked with a return to Madrid in January as he endured a rocky start to life in the middle east.

He however stayed in Saudi Arabia, where he earns a reported £500,000-a-week, and will at least remain with the club until the season ends.

Last month, speaking to Action with Waleed, Benzema blasted his team-mates, saying: ‘It’s because it’s not the same game, it’s not the same players, I need to be helped.’

He went on to add: ‘I need help on the pitch. I can’t win the game alone. I need a lot of things.’

Benzema enjoyed vast success during his time as a player at Madrid, culminating with a Ballon d’Or win (not pictured)

The Frenchman recently criticised his team-mates when discussing his struggles in the league

He had previously also denied reports of a rift with his manager, Marcelo Gallardo (pictured)

He also insisted in February that he had no issues with Gallardo despite reports of a rift with the Argentine.

Benzema was said to have been excluded from first XI training after returning from his holiday 17 days late in January, with a source saying his club couldn’t even establish contact with him for 10 days as he holidayed in Mauritius.

Reports suggested he was stuck in the African country due to a cyclone, though the incident meant that Benzema did not travel with his team-mates to their mid-season training camp taking place in Dubai.