Manchester United’s links to Real Madrid players have not slowed down one bit even after the January transfer window shut down almost a week ago. Now they are reported to be eyeing a move for Karim Benzema in return for their best shot stopper, David De Gea. This obviously will put some of the United fans on the edge especially after watching Karim Benzema struggle to find the back the net in recent times.
Karim Benzema is currently undergoing one of his worst seasons in a Galactico shirt – not that he has had many. But a 6-goal tally in 24 games so far, is only a shadow of what he has shown us in the past. The Frenchman arrived at the Santiago Bernabeu in the summer of 2009 and has gone on to make a staggering 389 appearances for the club. Often playing second fiddle to Cristiano Ronaldo in the final third, Benzema has not let it slow down his scoring form.
Plenty of strikers have found themselves put on a Madrid jersey but none have been able to match up to the talents of the Frenchman. Gonzalo Higuain had to find himself an escape in Napoli and Alvaro Morata to Chelsea. But even after winning 2 La Liga titles and 3 UEFA Champion League trophies, it looks like the former Olympique Lyonnais striker’s stint with the Spanish giants might just be coming to an end.
Jose Mourinho is dealing with a bit of a crisis in the striker department with their recent signing Romelu Lukaku failing to meet the lofty standards of the United faithful. The Belgian’s 19-goal tally will give you a false sense of success he has had this season. He arrived at Old Trafford for £75m and has so far struggled to justify his price tag.
It might be harsh to judge a player based on his first season alone but such is the price you pay when you are playing for one of the Premier League elites. Manchester United’s season has been less than impressive as compared to the one their noisy neighbours are enjoying and the 0-2 loss to Tottenham Hotspur was just the tip of the troubling iceberg.
Pep and his side are longtime vigilantes at the top of the league table and are in better shape to face the European challenge. Even if the current season does not promise much in terms of trophies, can Benzema be factored as a key figure next season? At 30 and playing a secondary role will not sit well with the European champion and Mourinho will be forced to offload one of the clubs best young forwards – Anthony Martial or Marcus Rashford.
