Benzema extends Real Madrid stay until 2021

Real Madrid and Karim Benzema reached an agreement Wednesday to extend the French forward's contract until June 2021.

The club revealed that Benzema will speak to the media about his lengthened stay on Thursday in the Bernabeu's press room.

If Benzema sees out the full duration of his newly scribbled terms, he'll have played 12 seasons for Real Madrid and will celebrate his 33rd birthday in the final season of his contract. He's won two La Liga titles and three Champions League crowns among many other individual and club accolades in the Spanish capital, and is often credited with drawing the finest displays from Cristiano Ronaldo in attack.

Marcelo, Isco, and Dani Carvajal have all extended their respective deals until 2022 over the past week, as Los Blancos' hierarchy looks to secure the bulk of Zinedine Zidane's irrepressible throng.

Zidane claims he's also agreed to a contract renewal until 2020. The former midfielder has enjoyed a sensational introduction to senior management since taking the reins from Rafa Benitez in January 2016, incredibly obtaining the same number of trophies (seven) as he's lost matches.

Benzema, despite being linked to transfers away from the club every summer, appears to still have a key part in Zidane's plans. So far in the 2017-18 season, the Olympique Lyonnais product has scored in the two-legged Supercopa stroll past Barcelona and has featured in three La Liga matches, assisting for Gareth Bale in last month's 3-0 win at Deportivo La Coruna.