Karim Benzema, Real Madrid’s current captain and the whites’ second all-time top scorer with 366 goals, could have led Barcelona’s attack before Madrid went for him, Barรงa, through then technical secretary Txiki Begiristain, closely followed the young and promising striker of Olympique Lyon,
February 8, 2008, 15 years ago, Karim Benzema was very happy about Barcelona’s interest. After playing a friendly with France against Spain in Malaga, the French striker spoke to the newspaper ‘El Mundo Deportivo’. “I am very happy that a big club like Barcelona pays attention to me”, said the young striker, then 20 years old, after learned that the Barcelona club was following him.
In fact, Benzema was surprised to discover that Eusebio Sacristan, then assistant to Barca coach Frank Rijkaard, was watching him in the stands of the Malaga stadium during the Spain-France match. “Really?” He replied admiringly. At the time, with three of his teammates playing for Barca (Henry, Abidal and Thuram), Benzema had plenty of references for the Catalan team. In addition, the fact of being able to share the dressing room with players of the level of Messi, Ronaldinho, Eto’o and Henry himself was something that excites him a lot. “I would like to play for Barรงa one day. Who wouldn’t?โ said Benzema, who at the time was the top scorer in the French League with 15 goals in 23 games.
