Karim Benzema Joining Brazil Serie A? Gremio President Candidate Confirms Shock Move for Al-Ittihad Star

Presidential candidate Paulo Caleffi has placed the Gremio election race under the global spotlight by confirming an audacious transfer strategy targeting superstar Karim Benzema, effectively contradicting widely circulated rumours that the French forward was heading to Brazilian Serie A. In a recent interview, Caleffi, while officially restricted from naming the player, outlined the "Gremio Model", which ensures the club's cash reserves are not compromised, citing the successful Luis Suarez transfer as the operational blueprint.

The host of the interview confirmed the name of the player to be Karim Benzema, citing people who have knowledge of the situation. This new Karim Benzema transfer negotiation, which aims to secure the Ballon d'Or winner for Gremio by January or mid-year, relies entirely on a new, exclusive global sponsor, a company of "worldwide repercussion" looking to enter the region, that will entirely fund the athlete's high remuneration.

What did Paulo Caleffi say in the interview?

The candidate clarified that the financial package for this potential Gremio new signing involves a base salary that "does not exceed the limits of great players in Brazilian football,” with the bulk of the player's income generated through a share of revenue from a special jersey line and unique club product sales, a structure that proved massively successful with Suarez, who was drawn to the club by the emotional weight of the "project" and the promise of being treated like a king by the fan base, a model the candidate insists is replicable.

Caleffi stressed that a player of this caliber is not attracted by Saudi-level money but by the emotional appeal of the “project”. The message to the forward is clear: “Here you will be king. Talk to Luis Suarez, and he will explain what the Gremio fan base will provide you.”

Benzema Transfer News

Despite being one of the Saudi Pro League's most high-profile signings, reports of his dissatisfaction and a tough spell in the Gulf have constantly linked him with an immediate return to European football. 2022 Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema has been repeatedly linked with a move back to his former club Olympique Lyonnais, Premier League powerhouses Manchester United and Chelsea, and Jose Mourinho's Benfica, with the latest shock rumour being a potential move to Serie A, now seemingly eclipsed by the audacious bid from Brazilian club Gremio.