Real Madrid great Karim Benzema says he's enjoyed his first months with Al-Ittihad.

The former France international has impressed in the SPL and in the Asian Champions League.

Benzema said: "I am very happy and proud of everything I have done and won with the Real Madrid. But I think it was a good time for me to try a new change in my life after everything I had already won in Madrid.

"And for a long time, even before football, I always wanted to come here. When the football project started in Saudi Arabia, it seemed huge in every respect. I wanted to be part of that story and help Saudi football grow. It's the reason why I came here.

"But also it is a Muslim country. When you travel there to Mecca, you are in the truth. In truth for a Muslim. You feel good and pure. It is simply exceptional. Here I am in peace. It is something that I wish all Muslims could go there someday. That is where the truth is. It does a lot of good. In and out of the field I feel good. It's what I feel."

Benzema also said: "There is a lot of passion here and I am happy with the level of the game. I am really surprised by the level in Saudi Arabia because in Europe we do not see many football matches here. But now they are being seen more and more by the big names that have signed."