Karim Benzema

Red Shorts

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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...rid-set-sights-Sergio-Aguero-Luis-Suarez.html

Real Madrid will listen to offers for Karim Benzema this summer.

The France striker is one of the best strikers in Europe but the Spaniards want to improve their side further and see the recruitment of a new No 9 as a step forward.

The 26-year-old has scored 22 goals in all competitions for Madrid this season including the vital winner in the Champions League semi final first leg against Bayern Munich.

He has helped Gareth Bale fit in well alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Angel di Maria but Madrid are to make changes.

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Up for grabs: Real Madrid are prepared to sell striker Karim Benzema this summer

Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain will all show an interest with Real looking for a fee similar to the £42.5million they received for Mesut Ozil.

The downside for English clubs could be where Madrid search for a replacement. The stand-out candidates are Sergio Aguero at Manchester City and Liverpool's PFA Player of the Year Luis Suarez.

Neither club wishes to sell, with both taking steps in recent months to ensure their star men feel wanted and that their ambitions are shared.

Liverpool's owners have shown a resilience to keep Suarez at Anfield, notably rebuffing Arsenal's attempts last year, while City have also held meetings with Aguero lately to underline their commitment to him.

Should Madrid persist, push for a deal and turn either player's head, then they will have to begin talking in huge figures with Suarez rated at £100m and Aguero not far behind.

So it looks like Madrid feel Benzema isn't the best they could do with, and want to step up their pursuit in Aguero or Suarez to be their man #9, which I am sure doesn't surprise us all.

We can ignore ourselves being interested, because we were soo 2010 with Benzema, but would you be concerned if he were to move to Chelsea or Arsenal? They both really lack a quality striker, and buying a Benzema or a Cavani I feel would really make them stronger. So where do you see him going this summer? Or will he stay another season?
 
How did Mourinho utilise him at Madrid, was he a fan? I know Wenger would like him. Hopefully selling Benzema is a result of buying Suarez for Madrid.
 
Wouldn't be too worried about him going to Chelsea. In that system they need a super hard working striker that does lot for the team other than just score goals. Benzema can be lazy as feck a lot of the time. Think he'd flop there.

At Arsenal on the other hand I think he'd be really, really good. Seems like the best player they can go for.
 
Orc said:
Wouldn't be too worried about him going to Chelsea. In that system they need a super hard working striker that does lot for the team other than just score goals. Benzema can be lazy as feck a lot of the time. Think he'd flop there.

At Arsenal on the other hand I think he'd be really, really good. Seems like the best player they can go for.
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Disagree, I think he'd play well in a team that wants to play two up top as he's not an out and out striker, like Rooney, but neither is he a CAM, he excels when he plays with an RVP mould player, on that basis, can't see him fitting into either Chelsea or Arsenal, perhaps at Spurs up front if they play him and Soldado, might fire Soldado into life as he think he needs that foil, someone like a Benzema
 
AngeloHenriquez said:
Disagree, I think he'd play well in a team that wants to play two up top as he's not an out and out striker, like Rooney, but neither is he a CAM, he excels when he plays with an RVP mould player, on that basis, can't see him fitting into either Chelsea or Arsenal, perhaps at Spurs up front if they play him and Soldado, might fire Soldado into life as he think he needs that foil, someone like a Benzema
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But he plays as a lone striker for Madrid?

I mean, yes, Ronaldo is a sort-of strike-partner, but it's not as if Benzema is playing behind him the way you're suggesting.
 
Brightonian said:
But he plays as a lone striker for Madrid?

I mean, yes, Ronaldo is a sort-of strike-partner, but it's not as if Benzema is playing behind him the way you're suggesting.
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You mean the team that feel they aren't getting the best out of him and want to move him on? What you've described is exactly the reason they are after someone who will do a better job in that out and out role, I watched a lot of him when he was in Ligue 1 and IMO that's always when he excelled.
 
AngeloHenriquez said:
You mean the team that feel they aren't getting the best out of him and want to move him on? What you've described is exactly the reason they are after someone who will do a better job in that out and out role, I watched a lot of him when he was in Ligue 1 and IMO that's always when he excelled.
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Yeah, he's been shit for Madrid...
 
Brightonian said:
Yeah, he's been shit for Madrid...
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always thought it was a strange move unfortunately, he's very "big fish in a little pond" when he's thrived, perhaps he likes to be the centre man? That's only conjecture obviously but I think he could do very well for a smaller side, just outside the top tier of world football. Pool should get cash & him for Suarez and play Sturridge off him
 
Orc said:
Wouldn't be too worried about him going to Chelsea. In that system they need a super hard working striker that does lot for the team other than just score goals. Benzema can be lazy as feck a lot of the time. Think he'd flop there.

At Arsenal on the other hand I think he'd be really, really good. Seems like the best player they can go for.
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Under Mourinho there is no way Benzema would be lazy as feck as Mourinho is the one who completely transformed him in that regard. The first few months, Mourinho took care of that and even criticized Benzema publicly to generate a positive reaction from him.
 
AngeloHenriquez said:
always thought it was a strange move unfortunately, he's very "big fish in a little pond" when he's thrived, perhaps he likes to be the centre man? That's only conjecture obviously but I think he could do very well for a smaller side, just outside the top tier of world football. Pool should get cash & him for Suarez and play Sturridge off him
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Mate, I was being sarcastic. He's only not done a good job by the standards of the Madrid crowds who regularly find a reason to boo Ronaldo.
 
Brightonian said:
Mate, I was being sarcastic. He's only not done a good job by the standards of the Madrid crowds who regularly find a reason to boo Ronaldo.
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Then we strongly disagree, 17 from 32 this season isn't what I'd describe as "only not doing a good job by their standards", that's not a brilliant return for a striker in one of the big 2 in the Spanish league. Not only that, but it's constantly cited that he goes missing in bigger games. I'm not saying he has been awful, he's been "ok", no more, no less. RM didn't expect in 4 years that they bought him, and played him as their main striker that he'd barely average 1 in every 2... I'm a fan of the boy and I realise Ronaldo skews him but he hasn't been a success at Madrid.
 
I think he's quite a lot better than people give him credit for but his role of Madrid is so often to distract as many defenders as he can so Ronaldo can score.

If he was the main man he'd show his quality imo.
 
Remember how much we all feared him when we played Lyon in 2008?

Scored against us, was a genuine menace. Thought he was the second coming of Ronaldo. Instead he's just an enabler for Cristiano nowadays.

He's still class in the sense that he scores some great goals but he's nowhere near not I thought he would be. Could be argued to be a French Rooney really.

Would take him though.
 
Why haven't they gotten rid of Benzema I wonder ? It's not like Madrid was skint in recent years and that there weren't quality strikers available all over Europe. He must be doing something right.
 
kouroux said:
Why haven't they gotten rid of Benzema I wonder ? It's not like Madrid was skint in recent years and that there weren't quality strikers available all over Europe. He must be doing something right.
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Ronaldo really likes playing well him.
 
Benzema sacrifices his own game to placate Ronaldo in the same way Rooney used to do, I can't see Suarez doing the same.
 
kouroux said:
Why haven't they gotten rid of Benzema I wonder ? It's not like Madrid was skint in recent years and that there weren't quality strikers available all over Europe. He must be doing something right.
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Centre-forwards are sold for exorbitant prices nowadays. Madrid spent stupid money on Bale, Isco, and Illarramendi last summer, I'm unsure they had another £50 million prepared for a centre-forward.
 
Blasphemy said:
Ronaldo really likes playing well him.
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I'd count that as doing something right.
KiD MoYeS said:
Centre-forwards are sold for exorbitant prices nowadays. Madrid spent stupid money on Bale, Isco, and Illarramendi last summer, I'm unsure they had another £50 million prepared for a centre-forward.
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How about the year before and the year before then ? His scoring record for Real Madrid is good for a guy who isn't the main player.
 
kouroux said:
Why haven't they gotten rid of Benzema I wonder ? It's not like Madrid was skint in recent years and that there weren't quality strikers available all over Europe. He must be doing something right.
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He's doing a very good job there in my opinion, and has done for 4 years now, scoring over 20 each season. But they always want one better, and unfortunately for him Aguero and Suarez are a level above, and he would have gone last season were Madrid successful in the Suarez pursuit. Unfortunately for them, Suarez' season will now cost them double what it should have last season, probably breaking the world transfer record should they be successful.
 
kouroux said:
I'd count that as doing something right.


How about the year before and the year before then ? His scoring record for Real Madrid is good for a guy who isn't the main player.
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I completely agree he's a good striker, but is he the shiny galáctico Madrid fans so crave? Especially in the centre-forward position.
 
would be good fit for Arsenal

However, if I was Liverpool and Suarez insisted on going to Madrid, I'd hit them for a huge fee and Benzema
 
Red Shorts said:
I've just seen his image on transfermarkt. He took it halfway through his hairdressing appointment :lol:

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It's like the shorter version of Giroud's awful haircut he's been sporting.
 
To be honest, if Benzema goes to Arsenal and Suarez to Madrid, I'm all for it. Rather Arsenal than Liverpool.
 
golden_blunder said:
would be good fit for Arsenal

However, if I was Liverpool and Suarez insisted on going to Madrid, I'd hit them for a huge fee and Benzema
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I'd take Benzema, Jese and Isco and call it quits if I had to sell him. Given the choice though I wouldn't trade Suarez for anyone.
 
KiD MoYeS said:
I completely agree he's a good striker, but is he the shiny galáctico Madrid fans so crave? Especially in the centre-forward position.
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He was meant to be at first but he didn't become that player, I know some reasonable Madrid fans love him despite that. As for the rest of the muppets, their opinion counts for shit in my eyes.
 
kouroux said:
He was meant to be at first but he didn't become that player, I know some reasonable Madrid fans love him despite that. As for the rest of the muppets, their opinion counts for shit in my eyes.
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Unfortunately for Benzema their opinion counts for a lot, Madrid are literally run by muppets.
 
KiD MoYeS said:
Unfortunately for Benzema their opinion counts for a lot, Madrid are literally run by muppets.
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Yes but then again he's been there a while, leaving Madrid will not be seen as a failure but more like the end of a cycle. Not many strikers stay there very long anyway. I wouldn't hate seeing him at Utd even if that would mean selling at least 2 strikers.
 
Benzema has always been the second or even third scoring option for Real. I'd be very happy if Man autos second scoring option consistently got the goal return Karim has for Real.
 
Be good if he did go to Chelsea, could be Torres/Shevchenko 3.0. Just does not look like a player who would cut in in the Prem. Ozil is a much, much more talented footballer but as we've seen his lackadaisical style renders him useless in a lot of matches. For £40m+ Benzema would be a guaranteed waste of money.

Mourinho knows this though, he won't go for him.
 
He's a wonderful footballer. His finishing holds him back from being an elite striker but his all-round game is brilliant - Suárez, Agüero etc are obviously better players but I think Real Madrid would be making a mistake if they let him go, he's the perfect foil for Cristiano and his record in Europe is brilliant.

Anyway, I somehow doubt the Daily Mail have the inside track on whether Real Madrid would be willing to sell.
 
kouroux said:
Under Mourinho there is no way Benzema would be lazy as feck as Mourinho is the one who completely transformed him in that regard. The first few months, Mourinho took care of that and even criticized Benzema publicly to generate a positive reaction from him.
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I think he has gotten worse over time, IMO. When he was with OL he was the main threat and he was always more direct with his style. He was much more explosive and looked like he had a spring in his step. After his first season he has never been able to reach the same speed; a lot of it had to do with his weight gain from 2010 after his injuries, I bet. Benz was sent to a fat camp in 2011 and since then he has gotten better with his technique and team-play but he's become way more passive in the final third. It's better for the team because it's not like he can be alpha with Bale and Cristiano playing with him.

There's been no serious talk about a potential transfer. He has a family in Madrid but I think he might be influenced by Zidane's departure. I don't think there's a better forward out there who can play his role to a higher level than Benz anyways.
 
Pippa said:
I think he has gotten worse over time, IMO. When he was with OL he was the main threat and he was always more direct with his style. He was much more explosive and looked like he had a spring in his step. After his first season he has never been able to reach the same speed; a lot of it had to do with his weight gain from 2010 after his injuries, I bet. Benz was sent to a fat camp in 2011 and since then he has gotten better with his technique and team-play but he's become way more passive in the final third. It's better for the team because it's not like he can be alpha with Bale and Cristiano playing with him.

There's been no serious talk about a potential transfer. He has a family in Madrid but I think he might be influenced by Zidane's departure. I don't think there's a better forward out there who can play his role to a higher level than Benz anyways.
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Nah I disagree, he has changed, improved certain aspects and got worse at others. Just like Rooney for us and I would never say Rooney has become a worse player than before.
 
kouroux said:
Nah I disagree, he has changed, improved certain aspects and got worse at others. Just like Rooney for us and I would never say Rooney has become a worse player than before.
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Yeah that came off wrong on my part. I was specifically talking about how you talked about him being lazy, not his overall ability. I said basically the same thing two weeks ago but it was pretty vague this time around so I understand the confusion. Benz is a better player certainly, but he has become more passive over time both in terms of his play on and off the ball.
 
Signing a new striker is an uneccessary risk imo. Suarez is better but his record in big matches isn't the best, im not saying he is bad or anything its just that no striker is perfect. There is nothing to suggest suarez or aguero would gel int9o the team as well as benzema has done and at the end of the day benzema is producing against teams like barca and Bayern so im happy atm. We started the season badly because we had too many new signings and I don't want that to happen again next season
 
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