La Liga - Benzema to join Real Madrid

Eurosport - Thu, 02 Jul 08:53:00 2009

Karim Benzema is set to join Real Madrid after Lyon accepted an offer of 35 million euros (£30m) plus add-ons for the France striker.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 Lyon - Benzema - 0

The agreed fee, which could rise to 41m euros dependent on performances, was announced on Les Gones' website.

"Several days ago Karim Benzema told club president Jean-Michel Aulas of his wish to join Madrid - who were always his preferred destination after Lyon - more quickly than originally thought," the Ligue 1 club said.

"The player wanted take the opportunity offered to be one of the key players in Madrid's ambitious new policy to collect some of the biggest players in the world.

"Lyon accepted Benzema's decision and we negotiated terms that pleased all parties concerned.

"The club would like to wish Benzema the best of luck with Real Madrid and that he gets the greatest benefit from an ambitious sporting and economic package which - given the different funding, sponsorship, fan-base and stadium size - we in France cannot compete with."

Radio Cadena Ser reported he will sign a six-year contract with the Spanish giants.

Club president Florentino Perez said that their next big signing would be presented "tomorrow", Thursday July 2.

France international Benzema is Madrid's third big-money summer signing following the acquisitions of Kaka (£60m) and Cristiano Ronaldo (£80m).

He has scored 37 Ligue 1 goals in the past two seasons for Lyon, with nine in 15 Champions League matches.

Premier League champions Manchester United were linked with the player after they received full payment from Real for Ronaldo's world-record move.

Both clubs are also thought to be interested in signing Bayern Munich's French attacking midfielder Franck Ribery.

Reda Maher / Eurosport

Comment 322 - 341 of 381

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  1. If Benz needs to improve in the near future, then­ Madrid is not the place for him. He would be­ overshadowed by the bigger players that have proved­ themselves at their previous clubs. Benz is just a­ little bit over rated. And at the end of the day he­ would just be keeping the bench warm for Kaka and­ Ronaldo. I really pity him.

    From Grizzly, on Thu 2 Jul 5:37AM

  2. wow, it'll be a disaster if R.Madrid don't win­ every competition.

    From c, on Thu 2 Jul 5:34AM

  3. big names in the team doesnt mean that the club is­ strong and succesful..

    eg. team england has lots of­ stars and big name players like lampard, ferdinand,­ gerrard, and terry.. but do they won the WC?? Maybe­ they would next time.. but the real thing is that the­ team doesnt need the big name players to make them­ success.

    eg. like AC Milan, they won nothing last­ season where kaka, gatusso, and pato plays. they cant­ achieve trophies.

    eg. like spain also, big name­ players like fernando torres, villa, casillas, david­ silva and puyol. these players is very good players but­ what about the Confederations Cup?? Nearly lose to the­ homeside.

    the real stronger point here is the manager­ and the management of the club. i will bet you how many­ times rm manager will change the seat.. sir alex­ ferguson is still in manchester united and i believe he­ knows what to do with the team. my word here is ­ --------- "LEAN ON SIR AF" "Glory2 man­ united"

    From Ben, on Thu 2 Jul 5:27AM

  4. so, monsieur Michel Platini.. do you have anything to­ tell us? when Chelsea or Man. City try to buy Kaka, you­ told the world that these clubs will make players price­ going crazy, small clubs couldn't buy a good player­ anymore, and your "European League" will be­ dominated only by several clubs.. but now, i still­ haven't heard anything from you, your comment about­ Madrid's moves.. come on, monsieur, be fair..

    From Rakhmat H, on Thu 2 Jul 4:29AM

  5. chechenr - your a tit! thats why Barca spanked yous­­ 6-2!!!!! 6-2 wtf - madrid are a PUB TEAM!!! The govt­ is­ bank-rolling them and we're seeing players­ join­ them for money - certainly not any footballing­­ ambitions - madrid have been well past it for a decade­­ now!

    From pegez, on Thu 2 Jul 3:54AM

  6. 313 n 314 1st u said bad move...then u said nice­ move...wtf...ar u an idiot?

    From Monkey L, on Thu 2 Jul 3:43AM

  7. Big mistake for big head player

    From Monkey L, on Thu 2 Jul 3:35AM

  8. Real Madrid has proved it time and time again that they­ r the dumbest buyers in the world. Let's start with­ Julio Baptista, wat about beckham, owen n woodgate. So­ wat makes tis benzema guy any different. He is­ young.

    C'mon Real Madrid r so dumb tat wen­ Florentino Perez's friend called him to a pool­ party, he brought his pool table.

    Ego is always the­ biggest problem wit Real Madrid players.Ppl usually go­ to madrid bcos they can enjoy a celebrity's life­ there.

    Now, that's the obvious reason y Manchester­ r not getting their players when they race wit Real­ Madrid. It is bcos Sir Alex Ferguson is a very tough­ character. He is very strict bcos he is the boss.

    But­ Man Utd and Arsenal would hav been a better choice 4­ Benzema. Believe me tis Galacticos 2.0 is going to bcom­ F**kers 1.0

    Benz should have chosen the right team.­ And tats the reigning world champions.

    Go Red­ Devils!

    We don't nid tis guy.

    Let's make a­ better forward than tis s**t

    From suriah_rocker, on Thu 2 Jul 2:24AM

  9. Post is for man_u_fans_are........... Go discuss ur own­ team and stop wasting our time, u have no valid input­ to offer anyway.

    From jamesl, on Thu 2 Jul 2:15AM

  10. Hey Man u .......... Villa wouldnt go to rancidfield if­ u gave him highest wages in the world. Why, ehm COZ UR­ SCUM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From jamesl, on Thu 2 Jul 2:09AM

  11. donneeyyyy urr a foookingg clawn

    From supersean1999, on Thu 2 Jul 1:35AM

  12. THA LAST 4 AV CHOMPIANS LEG WIL BAY MON U, BERCALENA,­ LAVARPOWL OND CHALSEA WANCE AGEEN.

    From Donney, on Thu 2 Jul 1:27AM

  13. n haig.the scottish spl is a joke and you know it.the­ only half decent player in it is nakamura and he's­ been sold for how much 8 million ha i think that says­ it all.

    From sirkeithbrennan, on Thu 2 Jul 1:27AM

  14. is there a picture of benzema where his arms aren't­ out to his sides?

    From Alex M, on Thu 2 Jul 1:16AM

  15. REEL MEDRAD WONNAY EVAN GET TAY THA LAS SAXTEEN A THA­ CL.

    From Donney, on Thu 2 Jul 1:14AM

  16. I would love to see the top four from the EPL dominate­ the CL again next season. This will prove some of the­ points discussed here.

    From cokrowinoto, on Thu 2 Jul 1:14AM

  17. I HOPE REEL MEDRAD WAN OBSALATLAY FACK AL NAXT SAYSAN.

    From Donney, on Thu 2 Jul 1:13AM

  18. !!!ANTIMADRIDISTA!!!

    From damnsoldja, on Thu 2 Jul 1:10AM

  19. win lose or draw those Real Madrid fans are in for­ exciting times ahead with those stars strutting there­ stuff

    From ben, on Thu 2 Jul 1:03AM

  20. Real Madrid are 1000.000.000.000 Bigger than­ Manchester­ United WTF IS MAN U ? 2 CL ? hahahaha!! ­ Hala Madrid!! Hala Madrid!! Ronaldo, Robben, Kaka,­ Benzema, Higuain, Ramos, Albiol, Garay, Pepe, Casillas,­ Marcelo, Raul!!!

    From chechenr, on Thu 2 Jul 1:02AM
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