‘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

The Red Devils are among those to have been credited with interest in former France international Benzema as questions are asked of his future in Saudi Arabia. The 2022 Ballon d’Or winner is said to be looking for a way out of Al-Ittihad.

His list of Premier League suitors is also reported to include Chelsea and Arsenal, 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 burned by veteran strikers in the past.

Ex-United defender Paul Parker, who won two Premier League titles during his time at Old Trafford, has told SpilXperten: “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.”

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.