Real Madrid rule out Benzema bid
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Real Madrid have ruled out making a January move for Lyon hot-shot Karim Benzema.
The Spanish champions paraded their new 27million euro signing Klaas-Jan Huntelaar before the media on Thursday, before president Ramon Calderon ruled out launching a transfer window move for the coveted France starlet.
Benzema would be unable to feature for Real in the Champions League having already played for the French club in this season's competition.
"I do not know if the interest is still there, but it is clear that for now it would be impossible," claimed Calderon.
"We should bring in a player who can participate in the Champions League, who is young and we can develop for the future."
Barcelona and Manchester United have also both been strongly linked with moves for 20-year-old Benzema.
Meanwhile, former Levante defender Luis Rubjales has rejected claims from ex-team-mate Inaki Descarga that the club deliberately lost a La Liga match.
Descarga lifted the lid on a potential match-fixing scandal in a newspaper interview earlier in the week.
The club's former skipper suggested they had deliberately lost a league game to Athletic Bilbao during the 2006-07 season which led to the Basque club surviving in the top-flight and Celta Vigo's relegation.
However, Rubjales claims he knows nothing about the allegations levelled by Descarga.
"I am surprised by the news. In my humble career I am a player who has always gone out to win," he said.
"If anything happened I knew nothing about it. I have been able to play better or worse, but I am very relaxed and I believe in the innocence of my team-mates until the contrary can be proven.
"I suppose that there will be a lot of commotion now because that is logical, but when I was told about it last night I was surprised."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments