Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema insisted that “reality is not the internet” in response to rumours of a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia.

“Why am I going to talk about the future if I am in Madrid?” asked the Frenchman.

“The thing that is talking is the internet and reality is not the internet.”

Benzema responded to rumours that he was on his way to a Saudi club, despite having one year remaining on his contract with the Spanish giants.

According to reports in the Spanish press, Benzema could earn $215 million over the course of a two-year contract in the Gulf kingdom.

“For now I’m here,” he said. “Tomorrow I go training, I enjoy every day and on Sunday I have a game.

“I’m very proud of my work and I enjoy every training session, every game and the most important thing is to enjoy.

“When I go to Valdebebas it’s not work for me because the day it’s work I won’t want to do it anymore.

“I enjoy football like children do and in my head I’m still a child,” said Benzema, who has won 25 titles in his time at Real Madrid.

During an award ceremony hosted by the newspaper Marca, Benzema explained that his approach to the game required him to be a more versatile striker.

“I know how to score goals, but what I want in football because I like football is what I can do on the field: movement, assists — I try to do things that are not seen in other strikers.”

Benzema said retired Brazilian player Ronaldo was his role model, explaining that “not only was he a goal scorer, but he could shimmy, make assists”.

And the French striker was also humble when collecting his Marca award, saying that “when a player receives a trophy it is always with the whole team because without my teammates I can’t reach the level”.

“I have the talent, but you need the help of others, we always need the help of the whole team.”

Photo by EPA/Rodrigo Jimenez