Benzema = French Ronaldo?

limpper SG

Real Madrid teammates were full of praise for Karim Benzema after his matchwinning performance against Shamrock Rovers.

"He finds it easy to score and will help the team much. Benzema could be the new French Ronaldo because he has a lot of quality. Although he's still very young and the comparison is a little different," said Marcelo.

Alvaro Negredo also remarked: "He is a physical wonder. He can be a global star. His control is perfection and his goal was outstanding. "

"Benzema is magnificent," added Gonzalo Higuain. "He will help us a lot this year and now we are much more dangerous with him."

Real chief and club legend Emilio Butragueno also said: "We must wait before comparing him to Ronaldo, but I liked how he played against Shamrock Rovers. He made a very good impression because he looks very decisive."

limpper SG

benzema is one real good youngster

FirePig SG

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has what it takes to become a new Ronaldo, the Spanish club's former Brazilian World Cup winner who is the 21-year-old's inspiration, Real's Brazilian left-back Marcelo said on Tuesday.

Real won their opening pre-season friendly 1-0 against Irish champions Shamrock Rovers on Monday thanks to a goal from Benzema, who joined Real from French side Lyon for 35 million euros (50 million dollars) earlier this month.

"That did not surprise me because Benzema is a great player. He is very young and we can't yet compare him to Ronaldo but he could become like him," said Marcelo in Maynooth near Dublin where Real will wrap up a pre-season training camp on Wednesday.

http://www.realmadrid.dk/news/article/?newsid=13807

"He helps the team a great deal with his work and his magnificent passes," he added.

Spanish media said the 21-year-old stole the show from Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo, who Real signed for a record fee of around 94 million euros last month, during the match against Shamrock Rovers.

Ronaldo was closely attended to and was taken off at half-time having failed to sparkle against some muscular defending.

When Benzema was officially unveiled as a Real player earlier this month, he said the Brazilian Ronaldo would be his inspiration as he looks to fire the goals to help the Spanish giants dethrone Barcelona in La Liga.

" Ronaldo is the greatest player in the world. He is my inspiration and every time I go on the pitch I will try to repeat what he did," he said.

The Brazilian left Real for AC Milan in January 2007. Ronaldo, who won two World Cups with Brazil and been named Fifa World Player of the Year three times, is now at Brazilian side Corinthians.