Ligue 1 - Lyon chase Van Nistelrooy: reports

Eurosport - Thu, 02 Jul 13:20:00 2009

Reports in Spain say that Lyon want to sign Real Madrid striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy to replace Karim Benzema, who is going the other way.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 - Real Madrid - Van Nistelrooy - 0

Marca said that Les Gones were initially interested in another Dutch striker, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, but that he refused to join the French side with Milan and Manchester United reportedly interested.

The Spanish sports daily added Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas then asked his Real counterpart Florentino Perez to try to convince Van Nistelrooy, out injured for most of last season, to join the club.

The 33-year-old, who moved to Real in the summer of 2006, has said he would like to stay on at the Liga runners-up.

But he has fallen down the pecking order at the Bernabeu following the £30 million plus signing of Benzema and has been linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur.

Van Nistelrooy underwent an operation in November 2008 on his right knee which the club said would sideline him from six to nine months.

The Dutchman has scored 45 league goals for Real, four of them last season before being injured.

The former PSV and Manchester United star was the top scorer in La Liga for 2006-07 with 25 goals in 37 matches.

The Spanish press said Perez hopes to sell most of the club's Dutch players, including Van Nistelrooy, Huntelaar, Rafael van der Vaart, Wesley Sneijder and Royston Drenthe.

AFP

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  1. he is pathetic specimen

    From big proof 101, on Thu 9 Jul 3:21PM

  2. Real's stupidity is growing every day. Saying­ everywhere you want to sell your very good players, to­ swap them with some way worse is something I can't­ understand...
    Anyone want to see the amazed stupid face­ of Florentino, when Ruud score a brace to Real for Lyon­ :D

    From Ivan D, on Thu 2 Jul 5:45PM

  3. BRING RUUD BACK TO MAN UTD, HE IS LEATHAL IN FRONT OF­ GOAL, NOT THE MOST SKILLFUL OF PLAYERS BUT HE WILL­ GUARANTEE YOU GOALS

    From Tarek T, on Thu 2 Jul 5:25PM

  4. Please bring him back to United ... I don't care­ what people say , he scored 150 goals for us in 4½­ years and 33 goals (in all compt) for Madrid in first­ season. He was 2nd highest in Erurope 2 season ago­ behind Totti. What's more, he will score more goals­ than Berba or Rooney , please bring back our­ Ruuuuuuuuuuuuuuud

    From akintayo a, on Thu 2 Jul 3:59PM

  5. good move for all involved.

    From matt, on Thu 2 Jul 2:57PM

  6. would be very good for Lyon i think they would­ appreciate him there

    From Sean V, on Thu 2 Jul 2:49PM

  7. Exactly, whats this rampage against the dutch players.­ Why so eager to sell? Not that they are any better, but­ certainly not any worse than some others in that­ squad.
    Ruud is still a top striker, injured, but when­ healthy (I know, thats the point) he will score again,­ no doubt.
    Also dont get why they are so eager to stay­ in an environment so hostile..

    From Dave, on Thu 2 Jul 2:38PM

  8. I'd rather see him at Tottenham.

    From Joel H, on Thu 2 Jul 2:19PM

  9. why Perez try to sell dutch players? some of them are­ world-class - sneijder and Van Nistelrooy are­ definitely top players!!

    From Muhammad Zaki K, on Thu 2 Jul 2:10PM

  10. no way bu.....t ok!
    take him lyon and good luck.

    From getachew44, on Thu 2 Jul 2:01PM
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