21million for Benzema - United rumoured to offer

His overall game is amazing. A predator in the area and the goal against us was fecking class, he got 4 players marking him and managed to score.

He is really the next big thing.

Here the goal again

Lyon - United Goals
 
Real apparently are prepared to offer £35 million...
 
Ekeke said:
In fact there were times when he picked the ball up and it looked like we'd never get it back from him.

He took his goal incredibly well. And with his weaker foot too that was some powerful strike.
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I've seen a few of his games this season and those qualities also also impressed me.

He holds possession very well.

Naturally right footed but has a very good left too.

And a cool head.
There was a game a few weeks ago, Lyon were losing by a goal, when they won a free with seconds on the clock, Benzema converted, whipping it into the corner, but it was the way he settled himself under pressure that impressed me, mark of a big game player.

He's also very quick.
I'm not sure it came through in this game just how fast he is, but probably the only player that would out pace him at United is Ronaldo.
 
Gabe said:
I've seen a few of his games this season and those qualities also also impressed me.

He holds possession very well.

Naturally right footed but has a very good left too.

And a cool head.
There was a game a few weeks ago, Lyon were losing by a goal, when they won a free with seconds on the clock, Benzema converted, whipping it into the corner, but it was the way he settled himself under pressure that impressed me, mark of a big game player.

He's also very quick.
I'm not sure it came through in this game just how fast he is, but probably the only player that would out pace him at United is Ronaldo.
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Yeah it didn't, that Ben Arfa looks pretty fast.
 
He'll go for a crazy amount of money. He's one of the few talents who the big clubs are actually able to buy, all the others (Ronaldo, Messi, Fabregas etc.) are already at top clubs and unavailable. So now that the clubs actually have a chance of getting a huge talent we'll probably see everybody go for him and outbidding each other.
 
Or AC Milan, his openly admitted destination as top priority.

We never seem to be able to attrack top talents when it comes to competition with other top clubs in Europe
 
Richter said:
Real apparently are prepared to offer £35 million...
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Looking at their strike force(RVN, Raul, Higuaín and Saviola), Real seem to have more space for Benzema that say Barca or Milan, who are more full in the striking department.
 
December_16 said:
Or AC Milan, his openly admitted destination as top priority.

We never seem to be able to attrack top talents when it comes to competition with other top clubs in Europe
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Ronaldinho(who was as good as UNiteds if they didnt mess it up with PSG)? Tevez? Anderson? Veron? RvN?.....
 
December_16 said:
Or AC Milan, his openly admitted destination as top priority.

We never seem to be able to attrack top talents when it comes to competition with other top clubs in Europe
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They want Drogba, think he could end up at United if Real don't go after him, especially after he sees some true United football in two weeks time
 
He's not coming here. Nice player but he'll end up in Italy. Inter are always buying, Milan looks like a good spot. Him and Pato up top would be fun in a couple years time.
 
Milan would be great for him, I just think that they will go after Drogba this summer, as for Inter he would be idiotic to choose them over United, that said if Real or Barca(who I don't forsee getting involved) come in with a bid he is as good as theirs. But as I have said before in regards to Benzema, when one door closes another one opens, ie United feck up the Ronaldinho transfers and end up signing Ronaldo
 
I just don't understand why these clubs are trying to sign a huge money striker when they have so many big names of their own.

Milan - Ronaldo, Pato, Gilardino, Inzaghi, and Paloschi coming out of the youth system.
Inter - Ibrahimovic, Crespo, Cruz, Suazo, and possibly Adriano if he sorts his shit out.
Real - Van Nistelrooy, Raul, Robinho, Gago, Saviola, Soldado, Higuain, and Cassano on loan.
Barca - Eto'o, Henry, Gudjohnsen, Dos Santos, Bojan, Ezquerro.

You guys can say, "Well Robinho kinda plays outwide sometimes" or "Inzaghi's old"... But look at our forwards...
Rooney - Played out of position as lone striker, or outwide.
Tevez - Also is played out wide sometimes when Fergie operates a 4-3-3, and is better as a supporting striker.
Saha - Injured round the clock, and getting old.
 
Good call, I think that could be another reason why he could end up at OT, let him have a little sitdown with SAF alongside Cantona as translator and I think United will get him LOL
 
MufcAgs23 said:
I just don't understand why these clubs are trying to sign a huge money striker when they have so many big names of their own.

Milan - Ronaldo, Pato, Gilardino, Inzaghi, and Paloschi coming out of the youth system.
Inter - Ibrahimovic, Crespo, Cruz, Suazo, and possibly Adriano if he sorts his shit out.
Real - Van Nistelrooy, Raul, Robinho, Gago, Saviola, Soldado, Higuain, and Cassano on loan.
Barca - Eto'o, Henry, Gudjohnsen, Dos Santos, Bojan, Ezquerro.

You guys can say, "Well Robinho kinda plays outwide sometimes" or "Inzaghi's old"... But look at our forwards...
Rooney - Played out of position as lone striker, or outwide.
Tevez - Also is played out wide sometimes when Fergie operates a 4-3-3, and is better as a supporting striker.
Saha - Injured round the clock, and getting old.
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it is more than just robinho plays outside or inzaghi is old, on each team i have highlighted players who are above 30 (rvn, crespo, cruz), or seriously going to retire after injuries (ronaldo), or young players who are viewed as 'backup strikers' forever, or strikers who have a good chance of being moved on in the summer (cassano, guddy, ezq), and one who isn't even a striker but a defensive midfielder (gago).....think a bit mate....there is going to be serious, very serious competition for him. I can't think of the last player where EVERY top team in europe won't atleast make an inquiry.
 
Took his goal very well. He appears to have a sharp and decisive mind.Certainly has the potential BUT I'm reserving judgement for the time being at least.
 
Yep, seeing that list just goes to show how this kids signing will go. Not to mention Raul will be 31 this summer. If the reports that he's more interested in playing on the continent are true it'll take a huge Chelsea bis to get him to England.
 
Milan or Real Madrid would bid crazily for him. I could see him take the starting spot immediately in these two teams. I really couldn't see us too eager to bring him here while we still have Rooney and Tevez up front, and Barca too has Henry, Eto'o and Bojan.
 
Cali Red said:
Yep, seeing that list just goes to show how this kids signing will go. Not to mention Raul will be 31 this summer. If the reports that he's more interested in playing on the continent are true it'll take a huge Chelsea bis to get him to England.
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forgot raul's broken 30 as well, to me he's perennially 25, classy as all hell. certain players i'm always think they're the same age...michael owen's another one.

Chelsea's, while i do think we could sway him to come over there, also has striker openings: Drobgba, if he stays is close to 30, pizarro will be replaced as he hasn't done well at all, sheva is over 30 and shite in england, kalou isn't a lead the line striker.

Juventus also have an opening for the lad, del peiro and trez are both over 30.

arsenal (benzema suddenly feels he can only play for a french gaffer and french mates) have openings as well....rvp is crocked always, and if wenger was willing to pay 30 million on a player, he would make space for benzema.

feck even liverpool, if dic take over and for some reason decide that they are going to need a 'halo' signing, kind of how auto manufacturers design things like the gt-r (in nissan's case) partly in order to be halo cars designed to bring prestige to the brand and people to the showrooms. They will have a space for benzema.

like i have said for months, benzema will be a brutal transfer war. Having a euro's this summer doesn't help. look what euro 04 did to rooney's price, and there was barely any competition for him. (atleast compared to what will be for benzema).
 
the only way the price will be sub 30 million is if he does a beckham, where he forces a move ONLY to madrid or ONLY to barcelona or ONLY to milan, but aulas is a master at maximizing asset value. very few presidents in world football are as ruthless at transfers as he his.
 
quiet_united said:
I can see he's moving to Italy soon. Either Milan or Juve, i'm thinking Juve.
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besides buffon, juve have never splashed major cash on a player. they bought zidane for 3 million quid off bordeaux ffs. in a bidding war, juve have the means but will not spend silly money. They are a bit like bayern in that they are very methodical and controlled with their spending. However, the new management at juve might view benzema as the perfect vehicle to announce their return to champions league football after a 2 year absence....europe hasn't been the same without them, IMO.
 
quiet_united said:
I can see he's moving to Italy soon. Either Milan or Juve, i'm thinking Juve.
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The only club who can afford him is Inter. He would be foolish to join them + I doubt they are interested in him.

He will end up joining us. There are very few clubs who can give Lyon what they want, and only one club who needs a striker desperately ie us.
 
devilish said:
The only club who can afford him is Inter. He would be foolish to join them + I doubt they are interested in him.

He will end up joining us. There are very few clubs who can give Lyon what they want, and only one club who needs a striker desperately ie us.
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you do know about serie a clubs better than most on here, you don't think milan will make a go for him? i know inter won't, plus they seem to be interested in menez more and splashing big money isn't juve's style. However for milan, ronaldo is potentially done, gilardino always has his naysayers, and inzaghi is close to being finished as well. They definately have the space for him, or will they target drogba/sheva more?

we do have a decent chance, but to be honest barca and madrid have the space and the money to easily trump us.
 
VoetbalWizard said:
you do know about serie a clubs better than most on here, you don't think milan will make a go for him? i know inter won't, plus they seem to be interested in menez more and splashing big money isn't juve's style. However for milan, ronaldo is potentially done, gilardino always has his naysayers, and inzaghi is close to being finished as well. They definately have the space for him, or will they target drogba/sheva more?

we do have a decent chance, but to be honest barca and madrid have the space and the money to easily trump us.
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AC Milan arent what they used to be (financially speaking). At his best Berlusconi was probably as spendthrift as Roman but things had changed, expecially since the man is in politics, and would sound stupid to spend so much money in a team when Italy finances arent go so well. AC Milan's strategy nowadays is to aim everything on old heads, players who would come on cheap and give you that extra edge in the CL. If a truly great talent comes across on cheap (example Kaka or Pato) then they would sign him, but apart from that they will still to experienced talent. Ok they may have not have exactly got Pato on cheap (15m) but they bought him in installments and at that sum you would probably get Berzema left boot. Anyway Galliani's main target is Didier Drogba whom he will probably not get because the club wont spend 20m on him. If they doesnt sign him then mind my word, they will launch a bid either for Shevcenko or Toni.

Regarding the other italian clubs, Juventus does not have the funds to bring in Berzema. Even if they had, I doubt that Berzema would join Juventus + his signing would probably infuriate Del Piero who wouldnt love to go down the pecking order. Regarding Inter, well nothing is impossible with Inter. On the other hand Inter has already enough strikers in their disposal + Moratti has his sight on Adriano who is doing so well in Brazil.

Real and Barca may be interested but there again do they need new strikers? I mean Real has already have Ruud, Robinho, Saviola and Raul upfront while Barca have already loads of trouble in accomodating Henry, Etoo, Ronaldinho and the young scarlets Bojan and Dos Santos. Do they need to spend 20 - 30m on Berzema to then let him rot in the reserves?
 
devilish said:
AC Milan arent what they used to be (financially speaking). At his best Berlusconi was probably as spendthrift as Roman but things had changed, expecially since the man is in politics, and would sound stupid to spend so much money in a team when Italy finances arent go so well. AC Milan's strategy nowadays is to aim everything on old heads, players who would come on cheap and give you that extra edge in the CL. If a truly great talent comes across on cheap (example Kaka or Pato) then they would sign him, but apart from that they will still to experienced talent. Ok they may have not have exactly got Pato on cheap (15m) but they bought him in installments and at that sum you would probably get Berzema left boot. Anyway Galliani's main target is Didier Drogba whom he will probably not get because the club wont spend 20m on him. If they doesnt sign him then mind my word, they will launch a bid either for Shevcenko or Toni.

Regarding the other italian clubs, Juventus does not have the funds to bring in Berzema. Even if they had, I doubt that Berzema would join Juventus + his signing would probably infuriate Del Piero who wouldnt love to go down the pecking order. Regarding Inter, well nothing is impossible with Inter. On the other hand Inter has already enough strikers in their disposal + Moratti has his sight on Adriano who is doing so well in Brazil.

Real and Barca may be interested but there again do they need new strikers? I mean Real has already have Ruud, Robinho, Saviola and Raul upfront while Barca have already loads of trouble in accomodating Henry, Etoo, Ronaldinho and the young scarlets Bojan and Dos Santos. Do they need to spend 20 - 30m on Berzema to then let him rot in the reserves?
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as noted in a previous post, ruud is on the other side of 30, robinho can play out wide and does often, saviola will be leaving the club. There is definately space for benzema at madrid and in all honesty could force his way into the first XI.

With barcelona, it all depends on what they do with eto'o/ronaldinho. If they sell one of them (ronaldinho to chelsea perhaps?), then there is space for benzema.

i agree that we have the best blend of stature, success and opportunity for benzema and i hope he realizes that because i am a massive fan of his and would love to see him move to us this summer.
 
VoetbalWizard said:
as noted in a previous post, ruud is on the other side of 30, robinho can play out wide and does often, saviola will be leaving the club. There is definately space for benzema at madrid and in all honesty could force his way into the first XI.

With barcelona, it all depends on what they do with eto'o/ronaldinho. If they sell one of them (ronaldinho to chelsea perhaps?), then there is space for benzema.

i agree that we have the best blend of stature, success and opportunity for benzema and i hope he realizes that because i am a massive fan of his and would love to see him move to us this summer.
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Ruud may be 31 thats true, but there again he has still 3 good years left in him, and until he is able to score goals for fun then they wouldnt keep him out. Raul is a sort of idol there, and like Ruud he has still 3 good years left in him. Regarding Robinho ok he may play on the flank. But there again would you push on the flank someone capable of scoring 4 goals in the CL to accomodate a 20m signing who may well end up a reserve? And considering Real's mania, is Berzema, galactico enough to spend 30m on him? Considering that Berzema would cost any club 20-30m is it truly worth to spend that amount of money for a reserve. I mean we are not talking here about a club like Manchester United who value youth talent but about a club whom, unless your name is constantly at the headlines then youre finished. Honestly I doubt that they will do another Anelka and spend 30m on a youth talent meant for the 'future'.

Regarding Barcelona, we are talking about a club with a much different mentality. Unlike Real Barca would give Berzema a chance. Stating that they also have to consider their youth talent (considered amongst the best in the world) who are waiting at the wings. What would be the message taken if Barcelona buy another striker despite already having Bojan and Dos Santos? Barca had already did that mistake and it resulted in losing Fabregas and Pique on peanuts. I doubt that they would do that again.
 
devilish said:
Ruud may be 31 thats true, but there again he has still 3 good years left in him, and until he is able to score goals for fun then they wouldnt keep him out. Raul is a sort of idol there, like Ruud he has still 3 good years in him and he had shown that he can still score loads of goals. Regarding Robinho ok he may play on the flank. But there again would you push on the flank someone capable of scoring 4 goals in the CL to accomodate a 20m signing who may well end up a reserve? And considering Real's mania, is Berzema, galactico enough to spend 30m on him? If Berzema leaves then it would be for 20-30m. Now is a 4th striker worth that much, expecially considering that we are talking of a club whom, unless your name is constantly at the headlines then youre finished? They had already 'invested' 30m on a French scarlet (Anelka) who was meant for the future and it turned soured. I doubt they would ever do it again.

Regarding Barcelona, we are talking about a club with a much different mentality. Barca would give Berzema a chance, but they also have to consider that they have some of the best talent in the world waiting at the wings, talent, whom, unless they wont give them a future they may well end up leaving. Barca had already did the mistake of ignoring that fact, which resulted in losing Fabregas and Pique on peanuts. I doubt that they would do that again.
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hope your right....i tend to be pessimistic about these things...we'll see in the next 6 months.
 
VoetbalWizard said:
hope your right....i tend to be pessimistic about these things...we'll see in the next 6 months.
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Look I dont know the future so I dont know what other clubs may or may not do. Stating that, I cant see a future for Berzema if he joins either the big Spanish sides or the Italian ones and I wonder whether they are ready to invest on him. Staying at Lyon is also a mistake because

a) you simply dont lose a big occasion like this.
b) Its not really great in working at a workplace where your boss would rather have you out then keep you there (that is what accepting a fee means)

I guess we should send Cantona or Blanc to have a word with him or two to tell him their experience at OT. Big clubs tend to do this stuff and it nearly always work. Lets wait and see how things develop. Maybe it turns up that SAF wont be interested in him after all or else Lyon may not be ready to sell him yet. In that case what Berzema would or wouldnt want would be unimportant.
 
yeah, surely a good talk from King Eric will have a good effect on the lad's perception of United, plus he knows he'll be with a young group of amazing players in Ronaldo, Rooney, Tevez, Andreson, Nani and co, that'll be more exciting than playing with people twice his age at Milan surely.
 
Anyone see Fergie after his post match interview congratulating Benzema? :lol: He (Benzema) looked a little nervous lol

He handed Gerard Houlier a United shirt.
 
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