European Transfer News: Benzema to Real Madrid and the latest on Ribery, Eto’o, and Tevez
Here’s the latest transfer news in European soccer with Benzema heading to Real Madrid from Lyon and the latest updates on Ribery, Eto’o and Tevez.
Benzema headed to Real Madrid - Lyon have announced that star strikerKarim Benzema
is to become the latest player to join Real Madrid.
The French forward had been linked withManchester United, but big-spending Real – who have already captured Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo in record deals – have won the race.
Lyon have said the transfer will be worth at least £30million as new Bernabeu presidentFlorentino Perez continues to build a new era of ‘galacticos’.
A statement on the French club’s official websitesaid: “Lyon announces the agreement with Real Madrid of the transfer of international attacker Karim Benzema for a net minimum value of €35m.
“It will also be possible to add various no-claims bonuses related to athletic performances, allowing the deal to reach a maximum amount €41m.”
Preference
It was thought that Benzema would remain at Lyon for one more season in order to concentrate on the 2010 World Cup.
However, the Ligue 1 outfit have announced that the attacker told the club’s hierarchy that he wanted to join Real, who he preferred to United, this summer.
The statement continued: “A few days ago, Karim Benzema informed president Jean Michel Aulas of his wish to join Madrid, which has always been his preference after Lyon, quicker than it was initially considered.
“The player wished to seize the opportunity that was offered to him by Real, which was to be one of the major elements of the club’s new, ambitious policy built around some of the largest players in the world.
“Lyon accepted the decision of Karim Benzema and negotiated the conditions of a transfer which satisfy the various elements.
“The club wishes Karim the greatest success with Real Madrid.” – SkySports.com - http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11800_5410725,00.html
Manchester City still waiting for Eto’o and Tevez - Mark Hughes has confirmed that Manchester City are still in the hunt to sign Barcelona strikerSamuel Eto’o and Argentina hit-man Carlos Tevez.
The Eastlands club made a £25m offer for Eto’o earlier this week, along with a four-year contract reportedly worth £250k-per-week, but the 28-year-old’s agent said he would prefer to stay at the Camp Nou.
Barcelona have since offered the Cameroon international a new contract, but Hughes has not given up hope of getting his man.
“We have made an offer but there appears to be a situation between the player and his club that we cannot be part of,” Hughes said.
“We just have to sit back and see what develops. Patience is a word that has been mentioned and we may need some of it.”
Hughes also confirmed City are interested in signing Tevez, who has left rivals Manchester United, amid reports the Citizens are in talks with the 25-year-old.
“I am a huge admirer of Carlos,” he said. “Everyone is aware of his situation and we are interested, as we are in all top quality players.
“We will have to see what happens but these are very early days.”
Hughes was speaking at the unveiling of Roque Santa Cruz, who finally completed his move from Blackburn Rovers last week.
Santa Cruz already knows he has competition for places from Craig Bellamy and Robinho even without the likes of Eto’o and Tevez joining City as well.
But such strength in depth is one of the reasons Hughes believes the Blues are capable of fulfilling the extreme expectation they will face, unlike last term when the Welshman always knew they would fall well short.
“If we can get the players we are hoping for we will have more tools at our disposal to do the job,” he said.
“We are trying to address that situation and we feel we are getting closer.
“Leading into the new season we are in better shape to be better prepared than we were last year, when expectations were the same as they will be this time.
“Last year we couldn’t fulfil them. This time I think we will.”
Santa Cruz is of the same opinion, even though the £18m Paraguayan accepts it may take time.
“The aim is the top four and that is certainly the mentality among the players,” he said.
“It might not happen overnight but we will move in the right way.”
• Meanwhile, Manchester City have confirmed four senior players have left the club.
Danny Mills, Darius Vassell, Dietmar Hamann and Michael Ball were not offered new contracts by manager Mark Hughes and are now free to take up other offers. – ESPNSoccerNet.com - http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=658422&sec=transfers&cc=5901
The latest on Franck Ribery - Bayern Munich general manager Uli Hoeness has left Real Madrid with a glimmer of hope in their pursuit of Franck Ribery, but reiterated that it will take “something crazy” for them to consider a sale.
Speaking on the day Louis van Gaal was officially unveiled as the Bavarians’ new coach, Hoeness revealed what he had told Real Madrid president Florentino Perez in their last telephone conversation.
He said: “I asked his right-hand man Pedro Lopez Jimenez, since Florentino does not speak English all that well, whether he knows the game Monopoly.
“I told him that Bayern had bought Mayfair on Monopoly two years ago and you don’t give Mayfair away that easily.
“We would only consider it if somebody did something crazy.”
Hoeness added that there is “no new offer and there never was an offer”, but that he had spoken several times with Lopez.
“There were a few enquiries from the top people at Madrid because we are only prepared to speak with the president or his right-hand man,” he added.
Van Gaal also missed the opportunity to end the speculation over the Francemidfielder, saying only that he “always wants to keep hold of the best players as a coach” before adding that it depends on a number of factors including the “atmosphere” and whether the player fits into the “holistic philosophy” he intends to implement. – ESPNSoccerNet.com - http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=658474&sec=transfers&cc=5901
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