The agent of reported Manchester United transfer target Karim Benzema has played down speculation linking his client with a move to Old Trafford.
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Earlier this week, the Manchester Evening News pictured Bezema’s representative Karim Djaziri meeting with United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward at the Savoy hotel in London, fuelling rumours that the Real Madrid striker would be moving to the Premier League this summer.
However, speaking to Marca [via the Mirror], Djaziri denied reports that he was meeting with Red Devils representatives.
“I haven’t met with any club in London. Not with United and not with anyone else. We haven’t held talks with anyone other than Real Madrid,” he began.
The agent went on to deny that Bezema was angling for a move away from the Bernabeu, instead revealing that his client was keen to see out his career in the Spanish capital.
“What is Karim going to do in Manchester? He’s happy in Madrid. He doesn’t want to leave,” Djaziri continued.
However, he did leave the door open to a potential departure should Rafael Benitez decide he had no role for Benzema at Real.
“Benzema would only leave if Real Madrid told him he was surplus to requirements,” he concluded, “because he isn’t going to leave of his own accord.”
It may be, however, that the Spanish coach—newly installed as Real boss following the departure of Carlo Ancelotti—is not looking to use Benzema in his forward line.
The ex-Liverpool boss has already expressed a desire to use Cristiano Ronaldo as a centre-forward [AS via the Daily Mail], while Real are believed to be interested in Chelsea striker Diego Costa [Fox Sports].
Similarly, Manchester United hitman and former Real loanee Javier Hernandez remains optimistic that the 10-time Champions League winners will want to sign him permanently [The Guardian].
It has also been proposed that Real may look to use Benzema as a makeweight in any deal to take David De Gea to the Bernabeu [AS]. The Spanish stopper has been seen as the natural successor to Iker Casillas, and United may be more willing to sell the highly-rated 24-year-old should they receive the world-class Benzema as part of the deal.
However, United may face competition from Arsenal, with the Gunners having been linked with a €50 million deal for the 27-year-old [via Goal].