Madrid flash the cash

French star set to snub Manchester United for move to Bernabéu

Last updated: 1st July 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Madrid flash the cash

Hunter: Lyon and Real Madrid have agreed a deal

"My understanding is that Real Madrid have offered £6million more than Manchester United were willing to pay for Benzema and they will be suffering because there is no doubt that in the last 48 hours they have been negotiating not only with Lyon but with the player"

Graham Hunter
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Spanish-based journalist Graham Hunter told Sky Sports News that Real Madrid have agreed a deal with Lyon for the in-demand Karim Benzema, despite reports suggesting that Manchester United are close to sealing the striker's signature.

The Premier League champions have been in negotiations with Lyon over a deal for the 21-year-old French international as they look to bolster their squad following the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo to the Spanish giants for a world-record fee.

But reports in Spain and France claim that Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has agreed a deal with Lyon for the striker and Hunter believes that Los Blancos's superior spending power has blown Manchester United's bid out of the water.

"Certainly there is a deal agreed price wise between Lyon and Real Madrid. It is going to be €35million - which is in the region of £32million," said Hunter.

"My understanding is that Real Madrid have offered £6million more than Manchester United were willing to pay for Benzema and they will be suffering because there is no doubt that in the last 48 hours they have been negotiating not only with Lyon but with the player, and the player was perfectly happy to go to Old Trafford.

"Every player has a value, in the current times particularly. You have to be careful about how much you're willing to spend on a guy who is still going to grow. He is a France international who was French Ligue One top scorer in 2007/08, but he is still only 21."

Denial

Lyon have confirmed that they received a bid for the France international but refused to name the club and denied that a deal had already been reached with Real Madrid.

Lyon director Olivier Blanc told L'Equipe: "We certainly did receive an offer of a sum appreciably superior to the sum that has been mentioned, but nothing says that it comes from Real. There is no agreement with anyone."

But Hunter believes the foundations have been laid for Benzema's switch to the Bernabeu as Real Madrid continue to build a squad of Galacticos in a bid to wrestle back the Spanish title from arch-rivals Barcelona and mount a bid for the Champions League.

"Benzema is a guy Real Madrid have offered a contract for six years so when you look at the way in which the deals for Kaka, Ronaldo and now Benzema have been done you can see they are planning for a long future," said Hunter.

This is the third transfer tussle to emerge this summer between Manchester United and Real Madrid after Perez finally secured the transfer of Ronaldo and Sir Alex Ferguson pipped the Spanish side to the signing of Ecuador international Antonio Valencia.

With the Benzema saga yet to be concluded and both clubs expressing an interest in Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery, it is a battle set to continue throughout the summer.

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Comments (66)

Darryll Walker (Manchester City fan) says...

This happened a couple of years ago when Chelsea had lots of money, United lost out on all their intended targets, Robben Mikel and Drogba. I seriously question whether United still have the pulling power, Liverpool stole Torres from them after much courting by United, or if they are seen by some as a feeder club or a club to watch due to the success of their scouting system and then go and pinch the players they're interested in. Also if United knew last year of the Ronaldo deal, as ex Madrid president Calderon alluded to in a recent radio interview, then why wasn't something done then to buy in players that would keep United at the pinnacle of English football? As good as he once was surely Michael Owen isn't the answer unless the money men at United have put a block on buying until they see if the £30.1m spent on Berbatov looks like coming good. I'd prefer to see Dean Ashton partner Rooney, who I believe Sir Alex has to make the focal point of his attack as the Rooney is world class, who along with Vidic are Uniteds 2 jewels. Vidic they can ill afford to lose at the moment

Posted 15:07 3rd July 2009

Ryan D (Manchester United fan) says...

It makes me laugh how Real are buying all these players, then there is all the other maybe's like Alonso from liverpool, but there is no way they can have them all because they wont all be able to play regular football because they all play similar roles, so some will be left out, which will in turn will make them want to leave!! for e.g, theyve got Ronaldo (good riddance to someone who doesnt want to be here) but they are still after Ribery...same player. theyve got kaka, but they want alonso quite similar! but all this time, they still have very good players in place!! all in all, Real can buy these players this year...but watch how many leave next year!!

Posted 14:59 3rd July 2009

Graham Smith says...

I dont know why everyone is panicing about RM buying all the best players. Since the PM League has been going no English team has bought a top 10 player its that the English club they have played for has made them a top 10 player. i.e Bergkamp , Henry , Viera , Ronaldo , Beckham ,Owen ,Gerrard , Essien Even with all Chelsea's money they have never bought a top 10 player. Looks like we will have to groom a few more. But UEFA need to bring in 6+5 Rule which would help

Posted 14:13 3rd July 2009

Michael Laidlaw (Celtic fan) says...

i think real are a disgrace and out of order they just want to buy player tht man utd want to buy and last season platini was moaning about man city spending money like that man utd may have a really bad season becoz threy arent signing high quality players bcoz berbatov is rotten nani is turning out to be rotten i think the best option to sign is aguero purely the fact that he is dynomite to replace ronaldo i think they should sign bojan

Posted 13:51 3rd July 2009

Steven Singh says...

i think real madrid will win NO compertition, because im sure all there new world class players want be able to play with eachother as they will all to impress. man u is still the best team in the world, they just need to buy loyal players!!!

Posted 13:36 3rd July 2009

Rudi Doran (Liverpool fan) says...

firstly look at the manager at madrid. Is he good enough to control all these different egos? need a ferguson or moruhino type figure to control ronaldo kaka and all. Tbh I still think barca will win the title next year. Real have no balance in there side. There defence is pathetic and yes they have tonnes of match winners but will they be able to perform in the big games? Like Ronaldo disappears in the big games. Benzema isnt proven as a big game player YET. Out off al there players kaka is there bigest threat. Stop hinm and u stop madrid. Like id say a full fit chelsea, United or Liverpool side could beat Madrid 2moro. Its the same at man city. just cus they have great players doesnt mean there goin to win everything. They have far to many people in the one position. Like I fear more for the man cty youth acdamey. Look at some of the fantastic footballers they have produced. They want the title say nxt yr. There not goin to wait for an 18 yr to develop into a star. they will simple go out and buy one for 30 million.

Posted 13:35 3rd July 2009

Sab Lee (Fulham fan) says...

It doesn't matter how much Real spend, the transfer funds have no limits. If they ever go into liquidation or have huge debts the government bail them out in the end. Its a win win situation for Real. Its disgusting but theres nothing that can be done about it.

Posted 13:23 3rd July 2009

Chris Seaman (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

And they say that teams like Chelsea and Man Utd buy success, Real have blown that out of the water. I dont believe their defence will be able to cope next season anyway, as its pretty much the same defence that got thrashed by Liverpool. Owen to Man Utd clever signing and I expect there is more on the way (one expensive signing). Lets hope they dont steel all the best players Real have left!

Posted 13:05 3rd July 2009

Tommy Jones (Manchester City fan) says...

I wish RM wins nothing this season to prove that "money can't buy success." The way things panned out, it seems to me Perez are aiming for financial success rather than football.

Posted 12:56 3rd July 2009

Chris Fitzek (Manchester United fan) says...

Madrid can sign all the forwards they want, but unless they sign a few decent defenders then it will be all in vein. They never had problems scoring!! Barcelona are still going to be better because they have good chemistry. and face it, messi is better then ronaldo, henry is better then benzema and xavi OR iniesta is better than kaka. As for man united, same old story, our squad was too strong last year, and we are only making it stronger, so no need to sign 50million pound superstars.

Posted 12:55 3rd July 2009

Paul Hilton (Manchester United fan) says...

don't worry about real, the galactico policy didn't work last time...barca will win la liga again cos they are a team not a bunch of superstar egomaniacs. as for mufc being a busted flush, i've heard that one before, blackburn need to win 10 more premierships before they can start laughing....but good comment, where indeed is all real's money coming from?

Posted 12:55 3rd July 2009

Mike Skeffington (Manchester United fan) says...

O ye of little faith. I can't believe how many fickle Man U fans there are out there. Of course Real are spending big money, they are backed by their government so it's not the club's money, it's the people's money including Barca fans. At this moment in time Benzeema has'nt put pen to paper, if and when he does it's not the end of the world. Sir Alex is shrewd and very experienced. Michael Owen is a good asset on a free and another top striker will no doubt come in. Owen Hargreaves will hopefully be fit so with the squad we have already there's no need to panic. To those Man U fans who say Sir Alex should go, look at his record and grow up. Man U and Fergie do business their way which is why they have been so successful.

Posted 12:26 3rd July 2009

Adam John says...

Surely if ribery moves to real that means robben will leave? He cant possibly want to stay with all the players they have bought. He would be a great acquisition for Utd, still young and proven in the prem. Plus i don't think he would be that expensive. Sneijder is another good bet, could be the kinda player needed to replace scholes

Posted 11:39 3rd July 2009

Andy Ng (Manchester United fan) says...

How do Real Madrid have that kind of money to buy just anyone they like and nearly all good player......is it because of the tax......so I seem it the tax that make all player want to go there. But I think RM is a smart club. Will there be any corruption over at the SPL. If RM not going to win anything this come year than I think their head will roll. But don't worry, all top boss are supporting RM to win everything this coming year. cos everyone love them(RM). But they are distorting the game / sport.

Posted 06:22 3rd July 2009

Michael Cullen (Manchester United fan) says...

Benzema is a top quality player n united should try there best to sign him....Forget about ribery he isn't worth that sort of money!!

Posted 00:49 3rd July 2009

Dom Kent (Blackburn Rovers fan) says...

i must admit real madrid did not valencia that much because look at the signings for real madrid. poor man united. ha ha

Posted 20:50 2nd July 2009

Anokye Manfred (Manchester United fan) says...

Sir Alex should consider signing Sergio Kun Aguero from Athletico Madrid to enable us still maintain our goal scoring.That is what we need.

Posted 17:38 2nd July 2009

Raad Hashmi (Manchester United fan) says...

i belive that a player like benzema in the squad would have been extremely good also provided that ribery was also up for the offer, but perez has swept away the cream of the football world......but i still believe that the mind of Sir Alex Ferguson can overcome the transfer and unavailability of not one ronaldo or ribery, but a hundred of them.......i have full trust in the experience that SAF beholds.....looking forward to the next season......however, huntelaar must be sought after...that yound lad can really play his football.....and under the supervision of S.A.F....the boy could do wonders....

Posted 17:35 2nd July 2009

Benedict Dyne (Manchester United fan) says...

why does Real Madrid think that they have to buy every player they think that other teams want, i think there should be a law passed as to how many players you can sign and how much money you can see. they should realise that they are not the only team to that are trying to bolster there squad so why do they believe that they have to try to sign all the players that manchester united want to buy. just because they had a bad couple of seasons they need to try and get someone in that can get every player they can get there hands on. who ever they sign they will never beat barcalona because they play to well as a squad thier chemistry is brilliant. Why do all the players that real have signed think that they are the best team as well, those players that they try to sign the second they know that they have a bid for them they dont care about any of the other teams that have tryed to sign the they dont even think about them.

Posted 17:23 2nd July 2009

Dhani Qayyum (Manchester United fan) says...

i think it is so fair that man u shoukld buy ribery and david villa all our players have gone!!!

Posted 17:21 2nd July 2009

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