Premier League - Lyon 'could sell Benzema'

Eurosport - Sat, 20 Jun 23:15:00 2009

Lyon could be tempted to sell Karim Benzema to Manchester United if the Premier League side put in a big-money bid, according to director Bernard Lacombe.

Olympique Lyon's Jean Makoun (L) and Karim Benzema (R) celebrate after scoring REUTERS - 0

Benzema (pictured, right) is one of the world's hottest properties and speculation is rife that United are ready to use some of the money from the impending sale of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid to bring the young striker to Old Trafford.

Lacombe claimed recently Benzema would remain at the Stade Gerland, but has now revealed the 21-year-old could be sold if the price is right.

"He is with us, but no-one knows what will happen," Lacombe told regional daily Le Progres.

"At the time we didn't think that Michael Essien would leave, but when Chelsea came with their cheque...

"If Manchester United, who we all know have come into a lot of money, present an offer for Benzema, what can you do?"

Ronaldo is set to become Madrid's second signing of the summer, following the purchase of Kaka from AC Milan.

The pair will cost the club around 160million euros in transfer fees and Lacombe has lashed out at the Spaniards for distorting the market.

He added: "The market is false because certain European clubs don't have official league bodies controlling how they are managed and can do what they want.

"I'm not bitter but how can Real Madrid, who are in debt, sign two players whose price is almost the same as Lyon's entire budget?

"It shocks we who are in the same environment, so I understand that people outside the football world are shocked.

"It's baffling, clumsy and disrespectful. Economically Spain is at a standstill. We can't support this."

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas had earlier hinted he could be powerless to keep the forward at the Stade Gerland.

"I won't hide from you the fact that he has been approached. For the moment, I managed to convince them not to go further," he said.

Benzema came through the ranks at the French giants and burst onto the scene in the 2007-08 season with 31 goals in 51 games.

That same season, the striker was named Ligue 1 player of the year and also topped the league's scoring charts.

This 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 the France forward nevertheless scored 23 goals in all competitions - an average of a goal every other game.

PA Sport

Comment 35 - 54 of 54

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  1. Viva Benzema!
    Viva Benzema!
    Running through the wall of­ goals!
    Here United sings!
    Viva Benzema..

    From Angelos, on Tue 23 Jun 4:24PM

  2. HEYYOU CSaba guy... in hungary everybody is in debt...­ that doesnt mean, that everybody on earth is in that...­ HEY... REal Madrid is the 2nd richest team, financially

    From Dave, on Tue 23 Jun 10:07AM

  3. Nr.46 you are right, and because he never misses on­ goal, he would be way toooo good in United... he HAS to­ go to REAL MADRID!!! - and HE WANTS to go there... so­ guys it will be like this: Huntelaar and Benzema­ switch... Oops!! oh yeah! twill be like this...­ HAHAHAHHAHALA MADRID!!!!

    nr.49 - where from the­ s.h.i.t, a.s.s.h.o.l.e world did you get this stupid,­ dumb, manchesterunitedous (means:very stupid)­ information...wow... REAL MADRID IS THE RICHEST TEAM on­ earth... not because they have to most money (because­ ManUtd is the first and just only THEN comes the second­ - Real Madrid, and after that comes a great gap...) BUT­ they have the best players, and EVERYTHING is better­ there than in Manchester... everybody HATES united...­ everybody wants to go to REAL MADRID!!!
    REMEMBER this,­ ye freaks

    From Dave, on Tue 23 Jun 10:02AM

  4. NEVER NEVEER NEVEEER!!!

    BEnzema will go to MAdrid. To­ Real MAdrid!!!!
    HALA MADRID
    SIEMPRE­ MARID
    FOOOREVAAAAA'

    From Dave, on Tue 23 Jun 9:56AM

  5. ronaldo is a great player, tevez as well but Benzema is­ different class.

    If and I hope he does sign for­ Unietd he will be a much better player then ronaldo is­ at the moment.

    Please Fergie sign him.

    From DELPHINE R, on Mon 22 Jun 12:30PM

  6. Stevie G real madrid has the biggest debt in the­ spanish league but seem to be backed by banks as­ blatter and hes side kick need to stop this before it­ gets to be a joke

    From Paul T, on Sun 21 Jun 4:39PM

  7. madrid have no debt......

    From Stevie G, on Sun 21 Jun 12:34PM
  8. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I discorvered a hot place­
    """""""W e a­ lthyFinder C­ om""""""" where many­ sexy singles- who like dating and-- chatting there.­ I'm an open- minded girl with strong s---exual­ a--ttraction I-- am Waiting 4 u

    From hotsummer00783, on Sun 21 Jun 11:27AM

  9. Benzema rarely miss in front of the goal, he would­ become an awesome striker with MU.

    From klingt, on Sun 21 Jun 11:16AM

  10. comment 46- dont panick. united are the best at­ rebuilding, we still have a stronger squad than the­ pool and if we buy right we will replace tevez who at­ the end of the day isnt that great a player. im not­ saying he isnt good enough to stay at the reds cos he­ is, but there are better players out there that will­ come cheaper and just as hungry. ronaldo isnt­ replaceable but we will win trophies next year he wont.

    From ripped of, on Sun 21 Jun 11:14AM
  11. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    with manu sell ronaldo for 80m!!!!! they hv got alot of­ cash to spend!!!! the problem is they dont know who to­ spend on!!!!well lets say they made a bid for­ benzema,who is alright.... but if cmes his not gona­ score 70 goals on 2 seasons.....i dont think manu will­ ever find someone as good as ronaldoxxxt
    tevez is the­ best player, i cant believe manu just lost him and­ ronaldo !!!!!!! at same time!!!!!!!!!

    i love manu­ to bits!!!!!!! we better get some great player that­ could replace ronaldo and tevez!!!!! iiim sooo gona­ miss tevez!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From man united !!!! i luv ''em'', on Sun 21 Jun 10:25AM

  12. aaron your living in dream land !!,dont be surprised if­ fergie only brings in one or two players only ,after­ all we have some quality understudies in­ Macheda,Anderson,Wellbeck and Gibson ,also think­ Berbatov though hes a bit lazy will be a better player­ next season with no Tevez around!!!

    From Dazza, on Sun 21 Jun 10:07AM

  13. Maicon is the last player Morinho will sell. Man U­ should just forget about him. He is simply not for­ sale.

    From JAMES F, on Sun 21 Jun 9:36AM

  14. resentdtox

    Liverpool bought many players that failed­ to deliver that's why they won jack sh'it.­ maybe Utd have better talent scouts than pool, if they­ buy Banzema its because he is better than Cisse, on the­ other hand Cisse at the right club with a half decent­ manager might be able to re create his form which­ brought him to the prem in the first place,There you go­ mate just think about it, there is always a different­ angle !!

    From Pete H, on Sun 21 Jun 8:07AM

  15. @David R - He's better in most aspects perhaps­ indeed, but NOT speed. Simple as that.

    From The Northerner, on Sun 21 Jun 7:46AM

  16. no .. it makoun with benzema ;)

    From Chris, on Sun 21 Jun 7:15AM
  17. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    is that Michael Essien on the left side

    From Lubov, on Sun 21 Jun 1:35AM

  18. United needs some new players, they are not as potent­ as last season without Tevez and Ronaldo, without the­ replacement of those two, winning trophies is just­ hard, but it takes time,, a lot of it, to get­ replacement for talent like Ronaldo, get a good­ strikers like Benzema or Villa, then winger like Ribery­ or perhaps some Spanish?? Best of luck, from the Blues

    From ., on Sun 21 Jun 12:51AM

  19. resentdtox
    I watch a lot of french football: Djibril­ Cisse is a less talented Thierry Henry.
    Karim Benzema­ is something else. He is faster than Cisse. He is­ younger than Cisse. He has better technique than Cisse,­ harder working and more creative. And a better hair­ dresser.
    He also doesn't go out and get pixxed at­ nightclubs.

    From David R, on Sun 21 Jun 12:18AM

  20. Benzema is the kind of player whom you can't tell­ what will be his outcome,will he be a success? will he­ be a usual overhyped 'talent'? you never­ know,he is more like a gamble for SAF.If I were SAF,I­ would go for him,he is worth it.

    From 3.14, on Sat 20 Jun 11:51PM
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