Weekly News Round Up: Benzema Signs For Madrid, Owen Signs For United, Argentine Striker For Bengal And More

7. Kaka Is Unveiled At The Bernabeu

Real Madrid's first signing of the summer, Kaka, was officially presented at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on July 1 in front of thousands of fans. Kaka was signed from AC Milan for just over 67 million euros last month and the Brazilian international playmaker was assigned the number 8 shirt that Argentine international midfielder Fernando Gago wore last season. Gago gets number 5 now.

6. Franck Ribery Wants To Play For Real Madrid

Franck Ribery is turning out to be a rebel now. The French international midfielder has made it clear that he is not interested in playing for Bayern Munich any longer, announcing, "I have made up my mind, I want to leave. It will be Real Madrid or nothing". Although Bayern Munich have since said that they won't let Ribery go, Real Madrid should launch a bid for Ribery before long.

5. Manchester United Sign Luis Valencia

Manchester United moved quickly in the transfer market after losing their best player for the last couple of seasons Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid. The Red Devils signed Antonio Valencia from fellow Premier League club Wigan Athletic for almost 19 million pounds. The Ecuadorian is only 23 years of age and has been excellent for Wigan in the Premier League. A move to a bigger club was all too coming but can Valencia replace Ronaldo?

4. Real Madrid Sign Karim Benzema

Everyone thought that Manchester United were going to sign Karim Benzema from Lyon but it was Real Madrid who swooped on in and signed the highly rated 21-year-old French international striker. Both Lyon and Madrid confirmed the deal worth 35 million euros (initially) and Benzema is said to have completed a dream move to the Spanish and European powerhouse. This is the fourth signing that Madrid have made so far and although Benzema is not a Galactico in the same bracket as Kaka or Cristiano Ronaldo, he would be slotted into the starting line-up at the Bernabeu and is likely to be the only big name signing in the forward department this summer.

3. East Bengal Hunting An Argentine Player

Kolkata giants East Bengal are planning to sign an Argentine this summer, according to their coach Subhash Bhowmick. Bhowmick spoke to Goal.com on various issues and among them was his club's prospective signings. Speaking on this, Bhowmick told Goal.com, "We are also looking at Edmilson and Sebastian Omar, who is an Argentinean. A Czech midfielder Jan Berger has also been asked to come for trials next week."

2. Michael Owen Signs For Manchester United

Premier League champions Manchester United have made the shock signing of the summer by handing out a two-year contract to Michael Owen. Owen's contract with Newcastle United had run out this summer and the former Liverpool and Real Madrid striker was searching for a club. Manchester United have been looking for a striker themselves but Sir Alex Ferguson's decision to sign the injury-prone Michael Owen must be baffling to the United supporters.

1. Brazil Win Confederations Cup, But Only Just

Confederations Cup favourites Brazil won the competition by defeating world shocking USA in the final but not before suffering a huge scare. The US, who had shocked the entire footballing world by smashing two past Spain without reply in the semi-finals of the competition, did pretty much the same thing against Brazil in the final, taking a 2-0 lead inside the first 30 minutes of the match. But the South Americans fought back playing some really good and spirited football and eventually won the game 3-2.

Subhankar Mondal