Karim Benzema marked his first appearance for Al Hilal in spectacular fashion, scoring a hat trick in a 6-0 win over Al Okhdood just days after completing a shock free transfer from Al Ittihad.

Karim Benzema, 38, who previously starred for Real Madrid, opened his Al Hilal account shortly after the half hour with a clever back heel finish after pouncing on a loose ball in the penalty area.

He doubled his tally on the hour with a low effort from close range before completing his treble four minutes later with another poacher’s finish.

Benzema also played a creative role, assisting Malcom for Al Hilal’s fourth goal in the 71st minute. Salem Al Dawsari added further gloss to the scoreline with goals in the 74th and 93rd minutes to cap a dominant performance.

After the match, the former Ballon d’Or winner took to social media to celebrate his debut.

“Proud of the team,” he wrote. “Thank you for the support and the warm welcome.”

Former Real Madrid teammates Luka Modric, Marcelo and Vinicius Junior were among those who reacted to the performance. Modric responded with fire emojis, Marcelo replied with a smiling face accompanied by hearts and fire, while Vinicius wrote, “KB oscuridad.”

However, Benzema’s move has sparked controversy in Saudi Arabia. Al Ittihad legend Mohamed Noor criticised the transfer, accusing the striker of letting the club down.

“When Benzema joined Al-Ittihad, he didn’t contribute much in the first season. But things started to change in the next season,” Noor said.

“The fans played a big role by supporting him, being there for him, chanting his name, and cheering him on.”

He added, “Is it fair for him to join the team this season and then say he doesn’t want to play with them? With all due respect, he’s not even close to being as good as Cristiano Ronaldo, and he doesn’t even deserve to be mentioned.”

Benzema had reportedly attempted to leave Al Ittihad during the January transfer window after failing to agree on a revised contract, which would have seen him play without pay for part of the deal. Frustrated by the situation, he opted to continue his career elsewhere in the Saudi Pro League.