Top targets snub United

July 02, 2009

REAL DEAL Karim Benzema

KARIM Benzema has snubbed United and is off to Real Madrid for £30m.

And Franck Ribery today revealed he wants to leave Bayern Munich and also join Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo at the Spanish giants.

Benzema and Ribery were the biggest names on Sir Alex Ferguson's summer shopping list and their decisions to head for Spain is a crushing blow for the Reds, who are now running short of options to replace Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez.

Benzema's club Lyon announced last night that they had agreed a deal with Real for the 21-year-old striker.

"A few days ago, Karim Benzema informed president Jean Michel Aulas of his wish to join Madrid, which has always been his preference after Lyon, quicker than it was initially considered," said a Lyon statement.

"The player wished to seize the opportunity that was offered to him by Real, which was to be one of the major elements of the club's new, ambitious policy built around some of the largest players in the world."

Capture

Benzema's capture takes Madrid's summer spending close to £200m already. And they could add to that with Benzema's France team-mate Ribery now revealing he wants to leave the Bundesliga.

"I have decided that I want to leave. It will be Real Madrid or nothing," said the 26-year-old. "I would like to hold talks with the Bayern management soon."

It leaves United's transfer business in chaos, despite signing Wigan's Antonio Valencia for £16m on a four-year deal.

Fergie could now switch his sights to Atletico Madrid's Argentine front man Sergio Aguero or consider a swoop for Real's Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.

Who should United go for now? Have your say

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alec dicks, manchester (02/07/2009 at 10:40)

hooooo hooooo hooooo, it just gets better...
OAFC

falconi (02/07/2009 at 10:40)

nobody wants to join us. the is fergies fault. why did he sell the 2 best players we had. get this clown out.

outstation, perth, australia (02/07/2009 at 10:46)

Has Ronny's long desired exit from Utd created a bad perception about the place?

CBU (02/07/2009 at 10:48)

We are now a club that is picking up the scaps from the top table. We have been snubbed again by two more top players, it's embarrassing. No wonder Carlito and Ronny left, they could see what was about to happen. Next to leave will be the supporters.

Stand by for an avalanche of bitters posting on this thread. I can't blame them to be honest, after all we really slagged them off about the Kaka snub. What goes round comes around so to speak. Where will it all end? T&C please tell us what to do next.

Never Boo a Blue (formerly The Grimreaper), Sale (02/07/2009 at 10:52)

Loads of money to spend, the world's top players snubbing offers, current top players walking out = laughing stock

Grant - Hemel Hempstead (02/07/2009 at 10:53)

Its a blow, but if the boy didn't want to come here, then so be it. He was ideal in the fact he seemed to have that physical presence, with the ability, that I feel a lone striker (which we tend to play) needs. Not sure what options we have now, maybe we can get Villa or etoo, but the options are slim. Nice to see both Blatter and Platini quiet on the ridiculous sums Madrid are spending. I am not spitting my dummy out, as I also find it amazing that Blatter is showing concerns at what City are doing yet chooses to endorse and even credit Madrid with there antics. I am not sure about mega rich businessmen flaunting so much cash and ruining the market either, but it does smack of double standards. The man is a disgrace.

Bill Wirral (02/07/2009 at 10:53)

i've just finished a comment about this guy so read it under the Valencia postings.

Cheetham Manchester (02/07/2009 at 10:54)

Snub? how so,have Utd made any bids for these players? If not how can it be a snub,plus these players have said all along they want Real Madrid or nothing..all this gutter press has Utd buying/wanting every player in the world.

Penfold,stuck in a postbox in Blackley (02/07/2009 at 10:56)

Great headline M.E.N.One that i think you will be able to use time and time again

Bradley (02/07/2009 at 10:59)

Wonder who is going to be signed to replace Tevez. Can't see United having a 17 and 18 year old as back up to Roo & Berba. Is going to be yet again a very long transfer window, hopefully no Sir Alex rushing to the airport to do last minute rush deal!
Wonde if Berba will step up to the mark this season. Has all the attributes to be a fantastic striker but not seen it often enough last season, he seems to be out of his depth at United!

Mushhhty (02/07/2009 at 11:01)

FERGIE AND GILL OUT!! They spent 30 million on a non-start like Berbatosh and couldn't stump up the cash to compete with Real. Gutted. They new (according to reports) about Ronaldo leaving for months and did absolutely nothing about it. Are the signings of Valencia and (supposedly) Alexis Sanches supposed to make us feel any better? We loose top world class talent and replace it with mediocrity. There is no way that Rooney and Berbaflop are going to do the business next season. Both of them are not fit enough to lace the boots of Ronaldo.

The Devil's Advocate, M11 born and bred, East Stand Lower 104 (02/07/2009 at 11:02)

I suppose they were crap anyway, and you didn't really want them, LOL. Nevermind, we have just let Vassell go on a free, maybe you can get him; that's if he wants to play for you of course. There's no need to thank me guys. Good luck for the future.

p.j, stretford end W102 (02/07/2009 at 11:02)

I think it does not matter anymore , its not worth buying players just for the sake of it , the best ones are gone.
I think we will probably do okay with the present squad domestically but compete with real and barca no way good enough .

Eric the Red Viking, Denmark (02/07/2009 at 11:03)

If they want to play for Madrid, so be it. United don't need any half-hearted players. United need committed players who appreciate the greatness of playing for Manchester United Football Club.

mancitypj, Denton (02/07/2009 at 11:03)

Oh dear,I bet you're gutted! Perhaps you could go for Ribery; oh no, he wants to go to Real Madrid too. Shame!

The Devil's Advocate, M11 born and bred, East Stand Lower 104 (02/07/2009 at 11:05)

Oh, by the way here's a post from one of your more intelligent serial City posters, copied from our forum:

Sad isn't it, that even a mediocre player like Eto wont join your small time club, even for £250k per week. Top 10 finish next season? Maybe
Elb Owdeep,
30/06/2009 at 14:59

LOL

stevi, france (02/07/2009 at 11:05)

Ribery was never coming and personally I think he's over-rated. Benzema's has always said he wanted to move to RM so I don't understand why SAF spend so much time on him...he must of realised once RM turned up to the party he was on a loser..he has to bite the bullet and get Sergio Aguero and Douglas......but knowing how tight SAF is he'll go for Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.

Gianni Rossi (02/07/2009 at 11:07)

Personally now, I don't actually believe that SAF had any intention of buying Benzema for the following reason. Madrid have been desperate to buy Ronaldo for the past couple of seasons. SAF is not a stupid man and I believe any negotiations with Madrid in the Ronaldo deal, would have included a clause stating that Real Madrid would not buy uniteds main target. This type of agreement would probably not be agreed in normal circumstances, but seeing as RM were so desperate to get Ronaldo I think they would have accepted it in this particular case. This is why I don't believe we were ever seriously considering buying Benzema.

Redraw, Belfast (02/07/2009 at 11:08)

Get this into you heads

Tevez is never good enough for Man United.

john blue, levenshulme (02/07/2009 at 11:11)

Can we now bin this " myth" about utd being the " biggest club in the world " p.s. should have gone for vassell. !

Jos Parlby (02/07/2009 at 11:11)

So what? We signed Valencia yesterday, according to the Sun, so let's sign Bayern Munich and Juventus today. Job done, no danger!

manc abroad, OT (02/07/2009 at 11:12)

You can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make it drink !!!

He always sais his first preference was Spain, so be it. Ribery does not want to come to England, full stop. Why ? The weather is too much like Germany. There are going to be some MASSIVE egos in that RM dressing room.

Plan B next whatever that is ?

Jaco, South Africa (02/07/2009 at 11:13)

Fergie+Gill = Transfer FAIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Seriously, why can we NEVER get transfers right?!?
We miss out on every single big transfer target, or sign average players for way over their actual value... pathetic!

Quinn9, Disco Pants (02/07/2009 at 11:14)

I've heard that Danny Mills is available and may be willing to speak to Taggart if the offer is 'crazy' enough. Hurry up though, you don't want to have to be racing over to Leeds/Bradford airport to meet him off his EasyJet back from Magaluf amid rumors that Bury are looking to hijack the deal.

Raju, Katmandu (02/07/2009 at 11:14)

SAF will bring in another unknown and put them among the world's best and perhaps he already has all the personnel he needs for this season. Real can look forward to all the players in the world and no coach what a way to build a team.

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