Manchester United Football Club

• Nickname:Red Devils
• Founded:1878
• Manager:Sir Alex Ferguson

• Ground:Old Trafford
• Capacity:68174

United to miss out on Benzema

01 Jul 2009 - 12:35:00

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Reports suggest Real Madrid are set to announce the signing of Lyon striker Karim Benzema who had also been a target for Manchester United.

Both Marca and AS believe that the 21-year-old France international is set to become Real's fourth big-money arrival of the summer following the captures of Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo and Raul Albiol.

Earlier in the summer, Lyon president, Jean-Michel Aulas, insisted Benzema would be spending one more season with his club while Miralem Pjanic claimed that Manchester United were on the verge of signing his team-mate for £38million.

Pjanic had told Bosnian website Sportsport: "Benzema is nearly gone to Old Trafford.

"The English club are willing to pay £38million for him and it is just a question of the day when he will move to England.

"He does not have anything against going to Manchester. Our side will be reinforced by Lisandro Lopez, the Argentine forward from Porto."

However, it now appears that Real will confirm the signing of Benzema later this week.