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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<ul><li>French striker linked with Al-Ittihad exit</li><li>Linked with move to the Premier League</li><li>Red Devils urged to keep faith with Hojlund</li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

‘Same mistake as Cristiano Ronaldo’ – Man Utd warned off ‘PR signing’ of former Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema as Frenchman generates January transfer talk in Saudi Arabia

Premier League

Brighton

Manchester United

Saudi Pro League

Al Ittihad

Damac FC

The Red Devils are among those to have been credited with interest in former France international Benzema as <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/karim-benzema-saudi-pro-league-al-ittihad-nightmare-few-signs-ending/blt6addb8a60ee121f3" target="_blank">questions are asked of his future</a> in Saudi Arabia. The <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/benzema-2022-ballon-d-or-winner-real-madrid-champions-league-la-liga/blt205c771507d61f07 " target="_blank">2022 Ballon d’Or winner</a> is said to be <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/karim-benzema-lawyer-explains-absence-saudi-pro-league-al-ittihad-hint-return-former-club/blt3c862116293d86f6" target="_blank">looking for a way out of Al-Ittihad</a>.

WHAT HAPPENED?

His list of <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/karim-benzema-arsenal-gunners-sensational-january-loan-swoop-saudi-pro-league-al-ittihad-real-madrid-striker/bltdd30d2f85d05878c " target="_blank">Premier League suitors is also reported to include Chelsea and Arsenal</a>, but United have been told to stay out of any transfer scramble. They have already invested faith and funds in 20-year-old frontman Rasmus Hojlund, while seeing their fingers <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/man-utd-karim-benzema-cristiano-ronaldo-role-old-trafford-rio-ferdinand-rasmus-hojlund-mentor/blt26825191cc6f423c" target="_blank">burned by veteran strikers in the past</a>.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Ex-United defender Paul Parker, who won two Premier League titles during his time at Old Trafford, has told <a href="https://www.spilxperten.com/fodbold/advarer-mod-benzema-koeb-hoejlund-er-fremtiden/ " target="_blank">SpilXperten</a>: “Karim Benzema would be yet another step backward. He would just be another PR signing, and Manchester United definitely doesn't need that. He would be the completely wrong player to bring in. Completely wrong. There is a reason he left Real Madrid, which is probably primarily about the money, but also because he likely wasn't guaranteed a starting position. It is likely that some fans would take him, but it would be a massive mistake. Hojlund is the future, and it would be a big mistake to bring in Benzema, who is not nearly as hungry as Hojlund. I cannot describe his career in words. There are no words big or good enough to describe what he has achieved, but he is finished at the top level. But It would just be making the same mistake as before when they brought in Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Edinson Cavani, and Cristiano Ronaldo. It would be yet another step backwards.”

WHAT PARKER SAID ABOUT BENZEMA

Benzema is now 36 years of age. He scored 354 goals across 14 seasons at Real Madrid, but is approaching the end of his distinguished career at the very highest level. Somebody in England may be willing to take a punt on him, but United appear to be distancing themselves from a move for one of the finest No.9s of the modern era.

WHAT NEXT FOR BENZEMA?

‘Same mistake as Cristiano Ronaldo’ – Man Utd warned off ‘PR signing’ of former Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema as Frenchman generates January transfer talk in Saudi Arabia | Goal.com India

Manchester United have been warned off “PR signing” Karim Benzema, with the Red Devils told they would be repeating their Cristiano Ronaldo “mistake”.

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