With a contract expiring at the end of the season, Christian Benteke’s situation at Crystal Palace could have easily led to him being cast aside and forgotten.
However, through sheer determination, the 30-year-old has managed to wriggle his way back into Roy Hodgson’s side, starting the last four games, during which he’s scored one goal.
With no new contract on the horizon for the time being, the player can only focus on the present and his performances on the pitch, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t thinking about the future.
Speaking to La Meuse during the current international break, as he’s been called up by Roberto Martínez to represent Belgium, Benteke touched upon Crystal Palace’s attempts to sell him in January.
He said: “I know football, and that’s business. I’m in a position where I’ll be free at the end of the season and where the club can hope to get a few million euros. You have to respect that desire, even if I wasn’t entirely in agreement. Beyond that, I’m an employee and I have a boss.
Reiterating he’s currently focused on the season at hand and leaving all the other stuff to his agent, Benteke was then asked if his desire was to stay in the Premier League.
He replied: “To be honest, at 30, I don’t exclude trying another challenge. It’s definitely more of a possibility than previously”.
As for a return to Belgium: “With all the respect that I have and will have for the Belgian league, it’s not something for now. I have other objectives, but I mustn’t, in my head, be blinded by just one idea. For now, I’m playing my games and we’ll see what happens. Does it have to be sorted before the Euros? In an ideal world, it would be to sign before playing my first game, but that’s just in dreams… (laughs)”.
Since joining Crystal Palace, Benteke has scored 28 goals in 138 appearances for the London club, assisting another 11 in the process.
