Real Madrid legend Karim Benzema has returned to the club as confirmed by transfer market expert Fabrizio Romano, who cited anonymous sources.

The Frenchman spent 14 highly successful years at the Bernabeu, which took in five Champions League crowns and football's highest individual honor the Ballon d'Or.

Benzema was expected to renew his contract in the Spanish capital in 2023, only to make a shock exit to Saudi Arabia where he now plies his trade for Al-Ittihad.

There have been reports of Benzema going AWOL at the turn of the year, but still he has continued through the Saudi Pro League season which draws to a close at the end of the month.

In a week that his former club drew the first leg of its Champions League semi final 2-2 against Bayern Munich, Romano reported that Benzema "has returned to Real Madrid's training ground Valdebebas to undergo further tests and get help with injury treatment".

The Italian added that Al-Ittihad is "grateful" to Madrid for its help "in managing Benzema's injury".

Details on the extent of Benzema's knock haven't been forthcoming yet, and he has managed to stay fit since December when he missed three games in the Middle East because of a back knock.

In any event, returning to Madrid briefly will allow him to link up with former teammates and his ex-manager Carlo Ancelotti, who didn't want Benzema to leave the club almost a year ago to the day on June 5.

Benzema's departure left Madrid without a number 9 for the first time in its rich history.

In his absence, attacking midfielder Jude Bellingham was made into a false number '9' by Ancelotti and led Spain's Pichichi rankings for La Liga's top scorer for most of the ongoing 2023/2024 campaign.

Next term, it is highly likely that Benzema's compatriot Kylian Mbappe takes the number.

Mbappe told Paris Saint-Germain that he will leave them when his contract expires on June 30, and while it is expected that he puts pen to paper with Madrid, there has been no official announcement on the matter yet.

Another candidate for the jersey is Palmeiras' Endrick, whose move in a deal that could be worth north of $60 million was confirmed when Benzema was still at Madrid in late 2022.