Karim Benzema Making Eyes at Milan (Among Others)

By: Martha | November 14th, 2007

Karim-B [All posts related to the death of Gabriele Sandri and its aftermath are collected here. The most recent is on top, and this one is being updated throughout the day as news develops.]

He may be a mere child of 19, but Karim Benzema sure knows how to get attention. The Lyon starlet, who Inara would surely throw herself in front of a tank to keep from leaving the club, talked to L’Equipe yesterday about the clubs that “make [him] dream.” And Lyon? Not on the list. There instead are Real Madrid, whose pursuit of the youngster was hot and heavy last summer, Barcelona and, yes, ~~Inter~~ Milan, though it was Inter who were randomly connected with Benzema as part of some Adriano rumors last week.

Benzema’s remarks, as you might expect, were couched in a commitment to see out his contract at Lyon (it runs through 2012), but the brighter his star shines, the more miniscule the odds that Benzema will actually still by in France in 2012, let alone by this time next year. He’s leading Ligue 1 in scoring and, though still a teenager, is a member of the full French national team, having appeared six times for crazy Ray Ray and scored ~~once~~ three times — not a bad resume for a 19-year-old.

No matter how beloved they are at home, players like Benzema from the non-tip-top leagues don’t get to stay in at home for long, as all the Portuguese who regularly leave the Super Liga for fancy gigs elsewhere can tell you. Where he’s is going to end up is anyone’s guess, but his agent will surely love him for making a few of the biggest, spendiest clubs in Europe think they’re on the inside track.

Some Related Serie A Posts:

Category: AC Milan, Rumors & News, Serie A

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Ilan

Benzema has 3 assists to go along with his 11 goals this season, making him not only the top goalscorer in France but, with 14 points in as many games, the top point-scorer too. He is quite a talent for a nineteen year old.
I listed the statistics of him and some other European youngsters who could be moving to some big clubs in the coming year.
soccerstatistics.blogspot.com
Inara47

Don't worry Martha, you didn't make the Inter connection up. There have been a lot of reports in France about Inter's interest in Benzema too.
Martha

Cripes, k, you're right. I hope to god I didn't make that up, but I can't find the Inter thing anywhere (apart from last week's post) -- thank you for pointing it out.
k

oddly, goal.com has him "flirting" with milan not inter..

well it wouldnt really make sense for him to go to inter anyway.. but apparently moratti wont rest until he has 800 million strikers on his team...

and if he were to leave for one of the three clubs, milan or madrid are his most likely destination.. i think barca have got their share of youngsters full of potential with krcic and dos santos... and in the case of messi, super awesome youngster full of bad ass moves..
Laurie

Speaking of "adored at his club," when I was at Metz for Metz-Lyon in September, I was AMAZED at the number of people wearing Benzema jerseys. This is one popular kid. (I adore this kid, so I'd get one myself, except that he's nineteen and it would feel beyond creepy.)

I wish there could be some way for France to keep him throughout his career.
Martha

Thanks, Inara, both for the image of your commitment and the info; will fix the goal count.
Inara47

He's actually scored three times for France (and also has four goals in the CL). Not bad for a kid.

Also, Benzema will be REALLY expensive. Probably more than he's worth right now, but considering that his contract has five years on it, I don't see any club willing to shell out that much for him until he's proved himself over a longer period of time.
Inara47

http://ngishili.com/images/tan...

That's me stopping the clubs trying to sign Benzema from entering France.

Anyway, it's well known that Benzema wants to play abroad one day (especially Real Madrid), and he hasn't made a secret of it, nor has he ever said he wants to end his career at Lyon. Believe me, no one in France is expecting that. But he (and his agent) have repeatedly said that he isn't leaving this summer.

Naturally these media articles only take out excerpts from whole interviews to make it seem like Benzema is just dying to leave Lyon, but what's he's really been saying, besides expressing his admiration for certain clubs, is that he still has a future with Lyon, has things to do with the club that has given him everything, and he wants to win the Champions League with them. But of course the media conveniently excludes that part.

Love for his club is part of the reason he wants to stay for a few more years, but also, he's starting at Lyon, adored by his public, getting world attention, playing in the CL and getting call ups for France.

At 19, this is as good as it will get at ANY club. Going to Real or Milan right now means he'll be a back up striker no matter how good he is. He knows that if he waits for two years, and assuming he continues to progress, clubs will value him more, and Lyon will get a higher price for him.

Staying for a few years won't kill his career. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, who plays in the Dutch League, which is worse than France, is 23 but has been the latest hot thing for two years now still in high demand.

So no, Benzema won't leave this summer.