Man Utd have already made huge Karim Benzema error as details of Cristiano Ronaldo deal resurface

Manchester United made an error in their past pursuit of Karim Benzema, it has been revealed.

Journalist Javier Parra Pena claimed on Sunday that United are exploring a six-month loan deal to sign 2022 Ballon d’Or victor Benzema.

Since calling time on his Real Madrid career in the summer, the Frenchman has netted 15 goals in 24 appearances for Saudi Pro League side Al Ittihad. Yet, Marca has alleged that Benzema has missed several training sessions either side of the winter break and is in manager Marcelo Gallardo’s bad books.

In turn, the France international who scored some 354 goals in 648 games for Real Madrid across 14 seasons, has been linked with a return to Europe.

Of course, it is not the first time Benzema’s name has been touted as a United target. Back in 2009, the Frenchman turned down the Old Trafford club to sign for Real Madrid.

Then United manager Sir Alex Ferguson once revealed how close Benzema came to joining United upon Cristiano Ronaldo departed to Real Madrid in 2009.

Ferguson said via the Mirror: "We tried to spend [the Ronaldo money] on Karim Benzema as, at 21, I felt that there would be an improvement there. He is tough, good physique, and a good goal-scoring record, so it was worth going a wee bit extra for him because of his age.

"But when it went to £42million, it was beyond his value. We went to £35million and I think that was fair."

However, then Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas once alleged United had offered a higher transfer fee than the £35million Real signed Benzema for.

Aulas admitted he was prepared to accept Real’s lower offer and allow the player to fulfil a lifetime ambition.

He told beIN Sports: “When Karim was solicited to leave Lyon, we had two offers: Manchester United and Real Madrid.

“Karim, like Nabil [Fekir], came to see me, and that's where there are relationships that show trust, and told me ‘My dream is to play for Real Madrid’.

“And so he went to Real Madrid for an inferior fee to what we had from Manchester United."

Topics: Football, Manchester United, Erik Ten Hag, Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo, Premier League, Transfers

Chris Byfield

Sport journalist with experience writing on football, rugby, boxing and the Olympics. I'm also a Crystal Palace fan. Please don't hold this against me.