Lyon confirm Benzema bid

July 01, 2009

Karim Benzema

LYON have received a big-money offer for Karim Benzema but insist there is no agreement with Real Madrid or any other club for the forward.

The 21-year-old is one of the world’s hottest properties at the moment, with United and Madrid reportedly among those in the to sign him.

Spanish media today claimed that Benzema could soon put pen to paper on a deal at the Bernabeu in the next after Lyon accepted the an increased offer of 35 million euros from Real.

However, Lyon’s director of communications insists they have not agreed to sell the France forward.

“We certainly did receive an offer of a sum appreciably superior to the sum that has been mentioned, but nothing says that it comes from Real,” communications director Olivier Blanc told L’Equipe.

“There is no agreement with anyone.”

United coach Sir Alex Ferguson has long been an admirer of Benzema and the Barclays Premier League team could decide to use some of the £80 million earned from the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo to Madrid to tempt the striker to Old Trafford.

Benzema came through the ranks with the French giants and burst onto the scene in the 2007-08 season with 31 goals in 51 games, a streak that saw him named Ligue 1 player of the year as well as top the league’s scoring charts.

The last campaign was less impressive for both club and player, as Lyon ended the season without the Ligue 1 title for the first time in eight years, but Benzema nevertheless scored 23 goals in all competitions - an average of a goal every other game.

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Kris-Kross, Ashton Under Lyne (01/07/2009 at 11:22)

Those quotes have since been retrated by the player concerned.

Baldrick (01/07/2009 at 11:32)

Yep and Real Madrid have announced that they have done a deal with Lyon for Benzema. Is there anyone that Madrid won't be buying this summer?

Solskjaer20Legend, Epsomville (01/07/2009 at 11:36)

Madrid, you've gotta hate those tools!!

Red Dawn (01/07/2009 at 11:37)

The quotes were obviously fake. How the hell would Pjanic know the exact details of the transfer?

I have no doubt Benzema will end up at Madrid and not United.

paul leigh (01/07/2009 at 11:45)

Karim has a great chance to learn from Fergie and have a chance at becoming a great player or he can stay in France and be no further along in 12 months. Alternatively he can replace or even join Huntelaar as a benchwarmer at Real Madrid. There is an element of risk with the boy at this stage of his career. Real (got more money than sense) Madrid prefer to be lazy and buy the finished article. We love seeing kids develop at Old Trafford. Nobody was that bothered about Ronaldo before we helped him become one of the worlds greatest players. Now I see that it is being reported that you are going to Real Madrid, oh dear! They hve no patience, if you don't start off like Maradona they tire of you very quickly!!

You have a great opportunity do not waste it at Madrid

ian , preston (01/07/2009 at 12:00)

We need to pull out all the stops and buy Aguero and Sanchez

Manu LD London Town (01/07/2009 at 12:13)

I love quotes from players about transfers. They always come back the next day and say they never said it. Anything to sell the paper.

stevi, france (01/07/2009 at 12:19)

he wasn't interested in coming to us, his mind was set on RM. If a player doesn't want to play for Manu then he isn't usually on SAF list.....

Rick, Glos (01/07/2009 at 12:22)

Benzema has snubbed United and chose Madrid, another slap in the face for the reds..Tevez, Ronaldo leaving, players not wanting to join and only a Wigan winger to show for things....crisis.

paul leigh (01/07/2009 at 12:35)

To Rick Glos

If this is a crisis, then god help City and the rest

chris, oxford (01/07/2009 at 12:37)

Hopefully they are just trying to smoke a bid out from United by leaking news of a bid to the press otherwise we will end up signing Stewart Downing and Mark Viduka ;-)

p.j, stretford end W102 (01/07/2009 at 12:38)

there is no evidence united put a bid in for him , he can only snub us if we had money on the table .
can ayone we prove we did , its all speculation like usual.
Fergie will probably have a completely different target in mind

ASBO, n'wich (01/07/2009 at 12:42)

the times are suggesting he is more likely to opt for utd, I certainly hope so.

CBU (01/07/2009 at 12:45)

paul leigh
1/07/2009 at 11:45

I have to disagree with you:

You say: Alternatively he can replace or even join Huntelaar as a benchwarmer at Real Madrid.

Do you mean like Carlito did at ours, and look what happened to him.

You say: Real (got more money than sense)

You mean they got more money than us!

You say: Madrid prefer to be lazy and buy the finished article. We love seeing kids develop at Old Trafford.

How do you explain: Rooney, Ferdinand, Nani, Carrick etc all developed by their own clubs, we just nipped in and spent mental money on them; nearly 100m for just those four.

paul leigh (01/07/2009 at 13:07)

Hi CBU

Good points all of them but what I am trying to get across is that a young player has a far better chance at Old Trafford. We are the ideal place for a young talent to develop.

Rooney is twice the player he was at Everton, no argument with Ferdinand, Carrick is a better player and the jurys out on Nani.

Carlito was caring, hard working and unselfish many of the great attributes all fans love but ultimately 15 goals out of 51 appearences make him a failure, I'm sorry, I really liked him. Compare that to Huntelaars 8 from 20 and look at him. Benzemas 43 from 112 makes you fear for him at the Bernabeu.

Not that many come through at Real to become great players, we have a shed load of em.

You are right they do have more money but a lot less sense.

paul leigh (01/07/2009 at 13:11)

Real have got him!!....no they haven't....YES THEY HAVE...er no they..er..have not....am I the only one who finds this a bit farcical!!

Kiyonori Tada (01/07/2009 at 13:14)

I really hate Real these few year,they looks thier target player are all follow fergie`s targets and united player,as they already took Rund,Beckham,Heinze,Ronaldo,and approrched Vidic,Tevez,and Ribery,Douglas Costa etc,we`ve got Valencia finally but they also bid him befoe,and will be Benzema officially sign them tonight,who become 4th sining of new perez revolution,and who was no.1 target of fergie off course,it`s blow again fergie that could`t sign what he want to,like already we missed Ronaldinho,Essien,Robben,Ballack,Torres,if we`ve got them,how we are great team at the moment,and I wonder why everyone doesn`t interested to come to United,and most of people say yes to Real,they have great history yes true,but their football is not great as they have such player,like Arsenal,Chelsea,United,Barca,Livepool etc doing more beautiful football I believe...but anyway I wonder more is where that amout of money come from??? if once Benzema completed transfer will be around 35m,and they already splashed nearly 150m,so will be almost 200m for 4player only and only one summer transfer window,and that is interesting if they will sign Alonso as well??? just hope Barca can beat even Ronaldo,Kaka,Benzema`s real revolution,I hate Real win any trophy

Grant - Hemel Hempstead (01/07/2009 at 13:23)

According to reports on Sky, a 6-year deal has already been agreed with Madrid. I think it would be a bad move for the boy, if true. He would be a young lad probably competing against Raul for a place in the side (along with Higuain, Ronaldo, Kaka). Raul holds alot of power in that dressing room - as many managers have found out. I can see major problems for the boy.

Jamaldo Jamatov (01/07/2009 at 13:40)

Gotta be honest, whilst he has he potential to be a class player, do we really want to buy him if x amount of years down the line he wants to play for Madrid.

I think we should bring Rossi back (never wanted him to go in the first place mind).

steve killeen (01/07/2009 at 14:15)

I hope we sign him, however i feel the comments from pjanic were false & this is just a smokescreen & he will be joining RM this week, i hope im wrong.

Brora boy, Highlands (01/07/2009 at 14:17)

I think we will get Benzema then the player I would like us to pick up is Moutinho. I know Everton have been chasing him but he would do a lot for our mid field. 22 years old and already captain of a good side. They would cost about 60 million plus 16 for Valencia. Money still in the bank but we are sorted unless Fergie wants a keeper. In that case I'd take the Germany keeper but I don't see four new arrivals. Anyway, thanks Ron.

tooth&claw, manchester (01/07/2009 at 14:24)

Benzema isn't back from holiday yet. He'll be angry when he finds out he's been sold and signed on a six year deal to Madrid in his absence. I suspect he might have wanted a say in the matter. I think it's the Spanish press being a bit hasty. Not saying that he won't go to Spain if there's a choice of two accepted offers but the Spanish gutter press is as competitive for scoops as any other cut-throat business so there's no surprise that they blur the line between journalism and creative fiction.

Steve in Brussels (01/07/2009 at 14:29)

we should get him now and then sell him to madrid for 150m in 4 years and give the angry spanish taxpayers who fund the "charity" that real madrid is laughably set up as who have now paid us over 120m quid in transfer fees. everything about that club is a disgrace. do not expect the "impartial" authorities to do anything about it as they signed Sepp Blatter a few years ago with gold and jewels

BALL AND BAT, ALL OVER (01/07/2009 at 14:42)

real would not be a good move where benzema would feel the pressure,where as at man u hed not feel the pressure and not be classes as a massive and be allowed to fit in........nicely and in time become a better player.

Lord Ruud (01/07/2009 at 14:49)

Tooth&Claw - I think the reason it has been paid attention to is his agent has also confirmed it. Interestingly Lyon aren't saying it's a done deal and are probably hoping for a bidding war. If it is between us and Madrid I think he'll go to Madrid - I'm biased but I think he would do better with us. At Madrid, there is no consistency in place and they already have a ton of strikers there and Raul, who as has been mentioned rules the dressing room politics. If he does go there, we will move on, he isn't the only good striker out there.

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