Pjanic: I never said Benzema would sign for United
Olympique Lyonnais forward Miralem Pjanic has denied saying that
hot shot team-mate Karim
Benzema was close to completing a £38m move to Premier
League champions Manchester United.
A Bosnian newspaper quoted the 19-year old as saying United were
leading the race to sign his hot shot colleague but Pjanic insists
he never spoke to Sportsport.
"I have not granted any interview to the media," the Bosnian
international said. "I do not know any other answer to say to you
because I said nothing."
Benzema has been linked with a number of Europe's top clubs,
including Real Madrid, Barcelona, Arsenal and Chelsea, and the
21-year-old is widley expected to leave Lyon in the transfer
window.
On Tuesday Sportsport reported that Pjanic said:
"Benzema is nearly gone to Old Trafford. The English club are
willing to pay €45m (£38m) for him and it is just a question of the
day when he will move to England."
Benzema, who has netted 43 goals in 112 league outings for Lyon,
is a full France international and has already experienced
Champions League football with the deposed Ligue 1 champions.
Manchester United manager Sir Alex
Ferguson is believed to have been handed £100m to spend
in the transfer window, following the £80m sale of Cristiano
Ronaldo to Real Madrid and the departure of striker
Carlos
Tevez.
The Reds completed a £16m deal to sign Wigan Athletic winger
Antonio
Valencia on Tuesday and are now out to sign a forward,
having also decided not to take up an option on Carlos Tevez.
Lyon coach Claude
Puel has admitted Les Gones would let Benzema
join another club if the striker wished to do so and the bid was
high enough.
"We know his importance at Olympique Lyonnais and his efficiency
in our squad," Puel said on Tuesday. "He's an exceptional player,
but we also know the financial figures of the club.
"We will evaluate the situation with him when he comes back -
July 2 - what he wants to do, we'll listen to him.
"If he has any dreams of leaving we will discuss them with him
if there are any concrete offers, which is not the case at the
moment."
