Real Madrid sign Lyon’s Benzema

MADRID: Lyon announced on Wednesday the transfer of their France international Karim Benzema to Real Madrid for between ‚35mil and ‚41mil.

The deal was reached after Real agreed to up its offer from ‚32mil, the sports newspaper Marca said on its Internet site.

Radio Cadena Ser said Benzema will sign a six-year contract with the Spanish giants.

This is the fourth signing by Real under the new presidency of “Galacticos” president Florentino Perez, after Brazilian midfielder Kaka, Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo and Spanish defender Raul Albiol.

After Kaka was presented to fans at the Bernabeu stadium on Tuesday evening, Perez told Spanish radio that the next signing would be announced “today or tomorrow.”

Real are looking for a striker and have been keen on Benzema since negotiations broke down with Valencia for Spanish international David Villa.

Real also has its eye on another France international, Bayern Munich midfielder Franck Ribery. — AFP