Benzema is class. I'd prefer Huntelaar, but If we can't get him then he'd be great. I'm just worried that he might need a number of years to get to the level we need, and we need a striker ASAP. I'm personally not at all convinced by Manucho.
21million for Benzema - United rumoured to offer
- Thread starter sammsky1
- Start date
Probably around 30 million, are you talking £ or €. Either way it's too fecking much. World superstars don't even go for that much.
SO! It helps with your FM scouting.
Which leads me to my next question. Hands on heart time people. How many of you cnuts have recommended players solely in the past based on FM or CM reputation alone? I fecking did it years ago when Ibrahima Bakayoko was the man on CM 97/98!
I think he could be a flop, seriously.
To be honest i'd have to see the player play first before i would recommend him. But you tend to think you've unearthed him 1st if people start blowing him up when you feel you scouting him ages ago on Champ/FM. Arjen Robben is one player that comes to mind, found him on Champ playing for Grounagen?(Can't remember the clubs nam...) and he turned out to be good in real life!
I fecking did it years ago when Ibrahima Bakayoko was the man on CM 97/98!
closest thing to drogba apparrently
ok i confess, i havent seen anything of him, but he sounds fecking sweet, will be good to give him the once over midweek. But its obvious we ARE interested, fergie has made that clear and although he distanced himself from us with those remarks i wouldnt hold them in too high regard as he is probably just showing good loyalty and commitment for his side, especially considering he is being linked to the team he is playing in 2 days, he wouldnt wanna upset any of his club, team mates or fans. Come on he aint stupid, he doesnt seriously think lyon will win the champions league any time soon! Looks like a transfer waiting to happen, and from what ive heard and the stats ive seen, he fits the bill.
Benzema ticks a lot of boxes.
young, physical, leads the line, holds up play, links up well, technically gifted
When I've seen him play I thought he was the complete article, whereas Huntelaar was noticeably lacking in pace when I saw Ajax recently.
Benzema is Huntelaar with speed.
young, physical, leads the line, holds up play, links up well, technically gifted
When I've seen him play I thought he was the complete article, whereas Huntelaar was noticeably lacking in pace when I saw Ajax recently.
Benzema is Huntelaar with speed.
Again to be fair to the people on here, Benzema is shite in the latest FM.
I fecking did it years ago when Ibrahima Bakayoko was the man on CM 97/98!
You havent seen him play then. Its exactly what we need and i cant wait to see him in the United shirt.
World superstars tend not to be 20yo. £30m will be a bargain for someone like Benzema.
Euros, Lyon don't sell cheap, could see it being pounds depending on how well he finishes the season and whether or not he is vocal about leaving Lyon
Guilty as charged, except I use pro evo
I fecking did it years ago when Ibrahima Bakayoko was the man on CM 97/98!
. Speaking of which anybody else seen that oscar trejo bloke play?? I think we should sign him If he's available for 21million, then sign him - he is the next biggest thing in World Football
Benzema set to snub United
Lyon ace would reject any possible summer move to Old Trafford
Karim Benzema claims he would reject a possible summer move to Manchester United because he wants to win the UEFA Champions League with Lyon.
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has been linked with a bid for the French international striker at the end of the season as he bids to bolster his attacking ranks.
Ferguson currently has limited attacking options with only Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez and Louis Saha recognised as experienced strikers in the United squad.
And Ferguson - who has also been linked with a move for Benzema's Lyon team-mate Hatem Ben Arfa - is understood to be on the look-out for attacking reinforcements.
Snub
However, Benzema - who is the current top scorer in Ligue 1 with 16 goals - insists he would snub any possible switch to Old Trafford.
"A move to United wouldn't be right for me at this time," Benzema told the News of the World.
"I have said I wouldn't leave Lyon until we've won the Champions League and I have no intention of trying to go too quickly."
Lyon face Untied in the last 16 of this season's Champions League as Ferguson takes his side to the Stade de Gerland for the first leg on Wednesday for a match which can be seen live on Sky Sports 1.
Scouting mission
Ferguson was recently spotted at Lyon to watch the match with Sochaux and it was claimed that transfer discussions were held with the French champions' president Jean Aulas.
However Ferguson insists it was simply a scouting mission ahead of next week's Champions League clash.
"The hospitality at Lyon was excellent - particularly the wine," Ferguson added in the Daily Star. "But I'm sure we did not discuss any players."
Lyon ace would reject any possible summer move to Old Trafford
Karim Benzema claims he would reject a possible summer move to Manchester United because he wants to win the UEFA Champions League with Lyon.
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has been linked with a bid for the French international striker at the end of the season as he bids to bolster his attacking ranks.
Ferguson currently has limited attacking options with only Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez and Louis Saha recognised as experienced strikers in the United squad.
And Ferguson - who has also been linked with a move for Benzema's Lyon team-mate Hatem Ben Arfa - is understood to be on the look-out for attacking reinforcements.
Snub
However, Benzema - who is the current top scorer in Ligue 1 with 16 goals - insists he would snub any possible switch to Old Trafford.
"A move to United wouldn't be right for me at this time," Benzema told the News of the World.
"I have said I wouldn't leave Lyon until we've won the Champions League and I have no intention of trying to go too quickly."
Lyon face Untied in the last 16 of this season's Champions League as Ferguson takes his side to the Stade de Gerland for the first leg on Wednesday for a match which can be seen live on Sky Sports 1.
Scouting mission
Ferguson was recently spotted at Lyon to watch the match with Sochaux and it was claimed that transfer discussions were held with the French champions' president Jean Aulas.
However Ferguson insists it was simply a scouting mission ahead of next week's Champions League clash.
"The hospitality at Lyon was excellent - particularly the wine," Ferguson added in the Daily Star. "But I'm sure we did not discuss any players."
Erm.... how many times is this going to get posted? On another note at least Fergie has added a little spice to this dry Champs game.
What's with the pluralisation everywhere?
20 millions..
Lyons...
20 millions..
Lyons...
You won't win the Champions League with Lyon, nutter.
This might help man:
http://ie.youtube.com/results?search_query=Benzema&search_type=
Some tasty footballing from the young man. If we're willing to pay £27m for Rooney, then £20m on this boy is well worth it in the long run.
From what I have seen, he's gonna be a class act as he's well on his way at the minute, so we have to get the finger out and get this lad!
Fergie is going all out for the lad by travelling over to Lyon. The offer was made - thats a dead cert. And Fergies obviously had a good time chillin with that twat Aulas and softing himup for a sale in the Summer.
Aulas as the article reads, will sell if the price is right and the price will be right if Fergie says we want him. £20m + Possibly Saha goin in opposite direction, thats my thinkin!
Where would he play?
Im sure he would leave quicker than any one of us could say the french fry frogs, If we offered him 80k a week.
Its all bullshit on his behalf, he doesnt want a transfer frenzy before a massive Champions League game with the club he is strongly linked to.
Nor would I.
Its all bullshit on his behalf, he doesnt want a transfer frenzy before a massive Champions League game with the club he is strongly linked to.
Nor would I.
i have no doubt that we are going to bid on benzema....have been saying this when all the berbatov muppetry was going on in jan. benzema is too good not to bid on, however benzema will move for a higher price than berbatov since all of europe will be fighting for benzema.21 million is just the start. He wont go for anything less than 30 million sterling.
Price is right. Aulas won't sell until he's maximised the value. I don't see Benzema coming to Manchester though (nor London since we won't pay that kind of money).
agreed, unfortunately. I think he is a cracking striker and domenech is going to play him a decent amount in the summer at the euro's, thereby making him even more expensive. he'll be off to madrid as a van nistelrooy replacement, IMO.
Sadly, I think I agree with you. I don't think he is coming here
He'll probably end up in Italy or Spain
He didnt look that special on you tube, so he cant be that good anyway.
He won't be available for 20 million. Its Lyon afterall. If they managed to sell Diarra to Real Madrid for 20 million, Benzema would cost us over 30 million I am afraid.
The idea of bringing together the finest young talent of Europe before they actually become untouchable is great. Stating that, you need 20 - 30 m for Benzema and one have to see whether we are ready to spend that fortune for a player who will end up 3rd option.
Lyon star reveals Spanish aim
Benzema prefers Spain or Italy to England
Manchester United target Karim Benzema has claimed he would rather play in Spain or Italy, than England.
Sir Alex Ferguson is a confirmed fan of Benzema and his Lyon team-mate Hatem Ben Arfa.
But the 20-year-old France international has told the Spanish press that his future lies in La Liga.
"I like the Spanish and Italian leagues," he told Don Balon.
"The Premier League does not hold too much attraction to me.
"Although they have great teams and I consider that I could play there, the style of game they play does not attract me.
"I love La Liga because they play beautiful football there.
Barca liking
"As far as football is concerned, Barca are the team I prefer today because they play it on touch," he said.
"I must admit I like Real Madrid as well, even if they are more focused on defending.
"Barca also give young players the chance to play alongside stars, which helps them improve a lot.
"In Italy football is stronger and more based on tactics and it's more difficult to impose yourself, but I consider it a very good league as well."
Ferguson keen
Speaking ahead of Lyon's clash with United, Red Devils chief Ferguson admitted that the French club could be very proud of their young striker whilst also admitting he wants another forward.
"It's an area we tried to strengthen last summer and I don't think that has left us," he told the Daily Star.
"We have big hopes for Danny Welbeck and we have Fraizer Campbell, who has done well at Hull, coming back.
"But both are very young. Ben Arfa and Benzema are 20. Benzema is a local boy, which I am sure gives Lyon pride."
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_3166784,00.html
Benzema prefers Spain or Italy to England
Manchester United target Karim Benzema has claimed he would rather play in Spain or Italy, than England.
Sir Alex Ferguson is a confirmed fan of Benzema and his Lyon team-mate Hatem Ben Arfa.
But the 20-year-old France international has told the Spanish press that his future lies in La Liga.
"I like the Spanish and Italian leagues," he told Don Balon.
"The Premier League does not hold too much attraction to me.
"Although they have great teams and I consider that I could play there, the style of game they play does not attract me.
"I love La Liga because they play beautiful football there.
Barca liking
"As far as football is concerned, Barca are the team I prefer today because they play it on touch," he said.
"I must admit I like Real Madrid as well, even if they are more focused on defending.
"Barca also give young players the chance to play alongside stars, which helps them improve a lot.
"In Italy football is stronger and more based on tactics and it's more difficult to impose yourself, but I consider it a very good league as well."
Ferguson keen
Speaking ahead of Lyon's clash with United, Red Devils chief Ferguson admitted that the French club could be very proud of their young striker whilst also admitting he wants another forward.
"It's an area we tried to strengthen last summer and I don't think that has left us," he told the Daily Star.
"We have big hopes for Danny Welbeck and we have Fraizer Campbell, who has done well at Hull, coming back.
"But both are very young. Ben Arfa and Benzema are 20. Benzema is a local boy, which I am sure gives Lyon pride."
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_3166784,00.html
If he likes beautiful football, then why the hell would he want to go to Italy
He will go to Madrid and then flop.
thankfully his first choice is Barca instead of those Franco cnuts.
I think we should pay the cash 30 million pounds to get this kid, Benzema. To get 25 league goals is no mean feat. Even Rooney at Everton who cost 27 million pounds hardly scored more than 10 in the league for Everton (granted that Lyon is a top club compared to Everton & play in a shite Frnech league).
Rather than be cautious and pay 8-12 million pounds for "gamble-rubbish" internationals like Kuyt, Crouchie or in our case, Bellion, Dong which accumulate up to about 20 million pounds; we should spend on real quality. You don't play in the French national team when you are 20 unless you are feckin special. Even Pool's "supposed world class" French U-17 international like young Sinama Ponggole & Le Tallec never got close to the international line-up.
Sign Benzema to boost our firepower. We can perhaps add Saha as part of the transfer deal to reduce the fee to about 20 million or so. Might be good for Saha to move back to France where he hopefully will remain injury free there.
Rather than be cautious and pay 8-12 million pounds for "gamble-rubbish" internationals like Kuyt, Crouchie or in our case, Bellion, Dong which accumulate up to about 20 million pounds; we should spend on real quality. You don't play in the French national team when you are 20 unless you are feckin special. Even Pool's "supposed world class" French U-17 international like young Sinama Ponggole & Le Tallec never got close to the international line-up.
Sign Benzema to boost our firepower. We can perhaps add Saha as part of the transfer deal to reduce the fee to about 20 million or so. Might be good for Saha to move back to France where he hopefully will remain injury free there.
25 league goals?
Skysports has him down as 16 league goals.
Skysports has him down as 16 league goals.
Probably all competitions!!
The more you here from him the more you begin to think it just won't happen.Shame really would be my choice for a striker.
Brilliant Benzema standing on the verge of greatness
When Man Utd travel to Stade Gerland, they will have to find a way to suppress the most complete young striker in the world today
Sourse: Guardian
Your hyperbole-and-fatuous-cliché detector may block this out but I'm going to blurt it anyway: the new Ronaldo has arrived. Just as it was sad to see the great Brazilian stricken by a possibly career-ending injury last week, so this week we may have occasion to rejoice at the spectacle of a young French striker proving that he has all the attributes to tormet the planent's best defences like no forward since, yes, Ronaldo.
Already Karim Benzema has been dubbed le phénomène and l'extraterrestre in his homeland; Lyon's Champions League clash with Manchester United this week is his chance to challenge watchers around the world to come up with a more inspired nickname. Many are already familiar with him, of course - Rangers fans probably wish they weren't, for it was against them that Benzema produced his best European performance to date. With Lyon needing to win at Ibrox in the last group game to progress, Benzema led the line superbly, using his strength, speed and balance to bully defenders right across the back four, his intelligence to knit together Lyon's offensive moves and supreme finishing skills to plunder two goals and tee up another. For a 19-year-old playing the highest-stakes match of his life, it was an amazingly accomplished exhibition.
Followers of French football weren't surprised. On Lyon's books since the age of nine, Benzema has long been tipped for the top. He hit 14 goals in 18 matches for the France Under-17s, with whom he became European champion in 2004. He signed his first professional contract with Lyon a few months later and though he was restricted to just six senior appearances in the 2004-05 season - and didn't score - he confirmed in his debut that he was special by coming on as a substitute in the dying minutes to dink the ball cheekily over a flummoxed Metz defender before centring neatly for Bryan Bergougnoux to stab in a winner.
Fast forward two years to the start of this season and Metz were again the victims as Benzema bagged the first hat-trick of his career. His league total for the campaign now stands at 16 from 21 starts, making him Ligue 1's top scorer and Gérard Houllier a fool; for last season Houllier insisted Benzema wasn't ready for the big time and only used him fitfully, preferring to place his trust in ... Milan Baros.
Now Benzema is not only the No1 striker in Ligue 1 but also the top forward in the national team. Raymond Domenech's mind is never easy to read but, when contemplating the possible offensive line-up for the recent friendly against Spain, France Football suggested that the only question facing the manager should be: "Benzema et qui?" ("Benzema and who?"). Ever the contrarian, Domenech started with Nicolas Anelka and Thierry Henry before replacing the former with Benzema in the 60th minute - almost immediately the youngster's vivacity and incisiveness enlivened a drab game as he forced a smart save from Iker Casillas with a powerful left-foot shot before, in added time, sending a fine header crashing against the crossbar.
That was his ninth appearance for Les Bleus and already he's netted three goals. Henry, France's record goalscorer, had just one cap and no goals at the same age.
Benzema's great strength is, well, that he has lots of strengths. His control and balance are impeccable even when at top speed. He can rifle in from long-range with his left (as against Auxerre on the first day of the season) or his right (as against Rangers at Ibrox) and he also excels in the air (as against Le Mans in September), with dainty lobs (savour this gem against Lorient) or Gerd Müller-esque scrambles; he can create space for himself with sheer brute force, explosive acceleration, canny movement or his precious awareness and agility (à la his back-heeled nutmeg that took out two defenders before his goal against Lens).
He even takes a mean free-kick. And he creates as many as he scores and fits in to any formation. In short, he has the power and mobility of Didier Drogba, the finesse of Andriy Shevchenko in his pomp and the finishing instinct of Ruud van Nistelrooy. His goals against Rangers and within eight minutes of his France debut (against Austria last March) - the biggest games of his fledgling career - suggest he may even have the Ronaldoesque gift of scoring when the pressure is at its most rarefied.
"He's my idol, the best player of all time as far I'm concerned," Benzema recently said of Ronaldo. "I've got loads of DVDs of him in action and I watch them all the time. It's a little embarrassing when people compare me to him - I've still got plenty of room for progress and I'm just trying to continue working hard; if I can have a career a little bit like his, well, that would be extraordinary." Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester United and AC Milan are among those who reckon Benzema could have a career a little like his idol's. All are known to have made inquiries about him, each being met with Lyon chairman Jean-Michel Aulas's assertion that the player will not be sold until Les Gones win the Champions League. And even then only for a world-record fee.
Winning the Champions League seems unlikely this term with Lyon's defence being as rickety as it is (gee, who would have thought that January addition of Jean-Alain Boumsong wouldn't shore things up?) but with Benzema up front, his fellow 20-year-old Hatem Ben Arfa out wide and the majestic, if ageing, Juninho in the middle ably supported by Jérémy Toulalan (who could accurately be described as the French Owen Hargreaves if he didn't occasionally pop up with a goal), they'll certainly cause United problems on Wednesday. Some say Ronaldo's last truly legendary performance was for Real Madrid against United in 2003 when, famously, he hit a hat-trick that wrung a standing ovation from the Old Trafford faithful. Perhaps on Wednesday United fans will be similarly privileged to witness the new Ronaldo produce his first truly legendary performance. If injury spares him, many more should follow.
When Man Utd travel to Stade Gerland, they will have to find a way to suppress the most complete young striker in the world today
Sourse: Guardian
Your hyperbole-and-fatuous-cliché detector may block this out but I'm going to blurt it anyway: the new Ronaldo has arrived. Just as it was sad to see the great Brazilian stricken by a possibly career-ending injury last week, so this week we may have occasion to rejoice at the spectacle of a young French striker proving that he has all the attributes to tormet the planent's best defences like no forward since, yes, Ronaldo.
Already Karim Benzema has been dubbed le phénomène and l'extraterrestre in his homeland; Lyon's Champions League clash with Manchester United this week is his chance to challenge watchers around the world to come up with a more inspired nickname. Many are already familiar with him, of course - Rangers fans probably wish they weren't, for it was against them that Benzema produced his best European performance to date. With Lyon needing to win at Ibrox in the last group game to progress, Benzema led the line superbly, using his strength, speed and balance to bully defenders right across the back four, his intelligence to knit together Lyon's offensive moves and supreme finishing skills to plunder two goals and tee up another. For a 19-year-old playing the highest-stakes match of his life, it was an amazingly accomplished exhibition.
Followers of French football weren't surprised. On Lyon's books since the age of nine, Benzema has long been tipped for the top. He hit 14 goals in 18 matches for the France Under-17s, with whom he became European champion in 2004. He signed his first professional contract with Lyon a few months later and though he was restricted to just six senior appearances in the 2004-05 season - and didn't score - he confirmed in his debut that he was special by coming on as a substitute in the dying minutes to dink the ball cheekily over a flummoxed Metz defender before centring neatly for Bryan Bergougnoux to stab in a winner.
Fast forward two years to the start of this season and Metz were again the victims as Benzema bagged the first hat-trick of his career. His league total for the campaign now stands at 16 from 21 starts, making him Ligue 1's top scorer and Gérard Houllier a fool; for last season Houllier insisted Benzema wasn't ready for the big time and only used him fitfully, preferring to place his trust in ... Milan Baros.
Now Benzema is not only the No1 striker in Ligue 1 but also the top forward in the national team. Raymond Domenech's mind is never easy to read but, when contemplating the possible offensive line-up for the recent friendly against Spain, France Football suggested that the only question facing the manager should be: "Benzema et qui?" ("Benzema and who?"). Ever the contrarian, Domenech started with Nicolas Anelka and Thierry Henry before replacing the former with Benzema in the 60th minute - almost immediately the youngster's vivacity and incisiveness enlivened a drab game as he forced a smart save from Iker Casillas with a powerful left-foot shot before, in added time, sending a fine header crashing against the crossbar.
That was his ninth appearance for Les Bleus and already he's netted three goals. Henry, France's record goalscorer, had just one cap and no goals at the same age.
Benzema's great strength is, well, that he has lots of strengths. His control and balance are impeccable even when at top speed. He can rifle in from long-range with his left (as against Auxerre on the first day of the season) or his right (as against Rangers at Ibrox) and he also excels in the air (as against Le Mans in September), with dainty lobs (savour this gem against Lorient) or Gerd Müller-esque scrambles; he can create space for himself with sheer brute force, explosive acceleration, canny movement or his precious awareness and agility (à la his back-heeled nutmeg that took out two defenders before his goal against Lens).
He even takes a mean free-kick. And he creates as many as he scores and fits in to any formation. In short, he has the power and mobility of Didier Drogba, the finesse of Andriy Shevchenko in his pomp and the finishing instinct of Ruud van Nistelrooy. His goals against Rangers and within eight minutes of his France debut (against Austria last March) - the biggest games of his fledgling career - suggest he may even have the Ronaldoesque gift of scoring when the pressure is at its most rarefied.
"He's my idol, the best player of all time as far I'm concerned," Benzema recently said of Ronaldo. "I've got loads of DVDs of him in action and I watch them all the time. It's a little embarrassing when people compare me to him - I've still got plenty of room for progress and I'm just trying to continue working hard; if I can have a career a little bit like his, well, that would be extraordinary." Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester United and AC Milan are among those who reckon Benzema could have a career a little like his idol's. All are known to have made inquiries about him, each being met with Lyon chairman Jean-Michel Aulas's assertion that the player will not be sold until Les Gones win the Champions League. And even then only for a world-record fee.
Winning the Champions League seems unlikely this term with Lyon's defence being as rickety as it is (gee, who would have thought that January addition of Jean-Alain Boumsong wouldn't shore things up?) but with Benzema up front, his fellow 20-year-old Hatem Ben Arfa out wide and the majestic, if ageing, Juninho in the middle ably supported by Jérémy Toulalan (who could accurately be described as the French Owen Hargreaves if he didn't occasionally pop up with a goal), they'll certainly cause United problems on Wednesday. Some say Ronaldo's last truly legendary performance was for Real Madrid against United in 2003 when, famously, he hit a hat-trick that wrung a standing ovation from the Old Trafford faithful. Perhaps on Wednesday United fans will be similarly privileged to witness the new Ronaldo produce his first truly legendary performance. If injury spares him, many more should follow.
Too much wanking over him. His inherent talent is obvious and to that I'll say he is definitely better than most young forwards around, but lets not forget this is his only first full senior season. Whilst I am not taking anything away from the lad I think a little bit of perspective is needed. He is undoubtedly a cracking player BUT wasn't there this much attention on a certain Djibril Cisse a few years back?
This guys just sounds amazing. Cant wait to see him play us over the next 2 weeks.
I think if we were to have had a chance to have signed him, it would have been last summer. We have probably missed our chance.Now that the world knows about him and he will be on display during Euro 2008, his transfer fee will be astronomical. And whilst we have never beeen afarid to pay big, we never go THAT BIG!
AC Milan probably out of it as already have invested in Pato, I expect he will turn up at Barce if they clear out of Ronaldiniho/Henry or Real given that Ruud boy is approaching the end of his illustrious career.