Real Madrid sign United target Benzema

LYON, France (AFP) - Lyon announced on Wednesday the transfer of Karim Benzema to Real Madrid for 35 million euros in a deal which dashes Manchester United's attempts to capture the France striker.

In a statement the French club announced that the fee could rise to as much as 41 million euros depending on various bonuses attached to the deal.

Lyon, in a statement on their website, said they had accepted Benzema's decision after he had made it clear he wanted the deal to be "concluded quicker than initially envisaged".

"The club wishes Karim the greatest success with Real Madrid," the statement added.

I've said it before (too often, perhaps), but "Wow"! Real Madrid have done it again.

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.

Do they even have a manager?  This is fantasy football of the highest order.  Huntelaar, Higuain, Raul, van Niselrooy... and now Benzema?  In front of Cristiano Ronaldo, Guti, Sneijder, van der Vaart and Kaka.  Mahamadou and Lassana Diarra and Gago are holding players that have full international credentials.  As do Ramos, Albiol, Pepe, Heinze, Metzelder and of course Casillas in defence.

Of course, this ONLY interests the blog as far as it impacts the Premier League.  First and foremost, Benzema is taken off Sir Alex Ferguson's shopping list.  Secondly, of the above named players, who will be available?  I assume that Madrid won't be likely to sell to any team that could challenge it in the Champions League unless there is Abramovich-level monies involved.  But perhaps the likes of Manchester City or Aston Villa, who haven't been shy about spending money in recent transfer windows, could snap up a world-class player that won't be making Madrid's first XI?