Eurosport - Sun, 28 Jun 14:02:00 2009
Real Madrid have reportedly offered 32 million euros for Lyon striker Karim Benzema after switching their attention to the France international from Valencia forward David Villa.
Spanish sports daily Marca said the French have yet to respond to Real's offer but last week Bernard Lacombe, adviser to Lyon chairman Jean-Michel Aulas, told Marca that "nothing is impossible and if we receive a good offer we will not close the door to anyone."
Lyon's director of communication Olivier Blanc said merely that "the only news is Real Madrid contacted Lyon a few days ago to discuss Karim Benzema."
"Benzema and Olympique Lyon confirmed his initial desire is to stay another year with Lyon," Blanc said, adding that was also the club's preference.
Manchester United are also admirers of Benzema but Real have decided to swoop now given the reluctance of Valencia's new chairman Manuel Llorente to sell them Spain striker Villa.
Real chairman Florentino Perez, who has already landed Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka this summer for huge fees, has twice met with Benzema's agent Karim Djaziri, first in Madrid then Geneva, Marca reported last Wednesday as the chase hotted up.
As well as a cash deal, media reports in Spain say Real and Lyon could look at a part-exchange in the shape of either Real's Dutch striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar or his compatriot, winger Arjen Robben.
Comment 1 - 2 of 22
man united have bid 35mil pounds = 50mil euros
madrid have bid 32 mil euros = 22mil euros
who is more likely to sign him?
united obviously
No don't go buy benzema, he is not that good, plus we don't know how good he will be. For less money we could buy eto'o, the best striker in the world. This way we make barcelona weaker and eto'o does not get to score any more goals to madrid.
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