Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Barcelona has proposed French champions Olympique Lyon a swap deal including Lyon forward and French international Karim Benzema (20) and Barcelona forward and Cameroonian international Samuel Eto'o (27).
Olympique Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas asked Barcelona officials about the situation of Eto'o last week (read more here). Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain told Aulas to contact Eto'o's agent José María Mesalles, since Barcelona wants the player to find an agreement with an interested club first.
Begiristain nevertheless made clear to the president of the French club that Karim Benzema stays an absolute priority for Barcelona, for this or next summer, and that the transfer of Eto'o could only go through if the French international is included in the deal.
Lyon is expected to hold talks with the agent of Eto'o soon, although it seems at this point that the wage demands of the Cameroonian striker could make any deal very difficult.
Read more:
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Saturday, 26 July 2008
Barcelona proposes Eto'o-Benzema swap
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12 comments:
It'd be a very interesting swap. I hope Barca succeeds in getting Benzema this time.
Very good thinking by Barca board.
It would be very good if this swap is done.
This is never going to happen.
1. Lyon want Eto'o in order to pair him with Benzema. They aren't interested in a swap.
2. Eto'o's salary demands are high even for the biggest clubs. Coupled with France's high taxes, Lyon would have to fork a shit ton of money for his wages alone.
3. As if Eto'o would ever play in Ligue 1.
4. Benzema said repeatedly that he doesn't plan on leaving this summer and has indicated he may stay the following summer as well (the kid's only 20).
5. Aulas wasn't kidding when he spoke about harmony amongst the players. Lyon are still a small club in the sense that they don't have the allure of bigger clubs. OL players won't accept the huge wage discrepancies that they would otherwise tolerate in a more prestigious club.
Also, I don't think Barca would make an Eto'o transfer solely contingent on the sale of Benzema simply because of any future transactions (for example, if Lyon produce an even better player in the future). Plus Barca and Lyon actually have a good relationship (hard to believe, I know) thanks to the respect between Aulas and Laporta.
How can you pair Eto'o and Benzema since they both are centre forwards and Lyon plays 4-3-3? Benzema can also plays on the left but he doesn't like it. Unless the new manager changes the system.
If you have a good project and make him the leader of the team, I'm sure Eto'o would at least think about it.
Groga: Lyon have a new manager who is currently experimenting with different lineups. The club's been using the 4-3-3 for years, except Lyon's ever changing manpower means it's losing it's effectiveness. If Lyon had both Eto'o and Benzema, they'd definitely find a way to play both of them together, even if they had to make up an entirely new formation. And like you said, Benzema can play anywhere on the front line, so there are options.
oops, that above comment came from me. beetster=inara (I forgot to log out of google before I posted).
As deeply as I may desire this move, it's better not to hope it's possible. Inara's post is very reasonable and I agree with everything said. Though, next summer will be decisive for Benzema's future and I really hope Barca will act properly. We really shouldn't splash on a striker now if Benzema is yet unavailable. Rather wait next summer and buy him along with a first team left fullback (since Sylvinho will probably by then) - Vargas or Clichy and young, tall keeper with great potential - Neuer. Until then maybe it would really be best to keep Eto'o.
Inara is absolutely right. Lyon has made no secret of their desire for Eto'o, but Ligue 1 just isn't the kind of league that splashes that big for players.
A 20-year-old with a ginormous upside for a 27-year-old coming off of consecutive seasons with major injuries and who is on the down slope of his career? Aulas is smart and shrewd, not crazy.
I think the suggestion was more to make them realize that we want Benzema, when he comes available, and that we would like to be first in the queue. I could even see an Eto'o deal that includes rights of first refusal.
I do think that Eto'o would take Lyon because of its history, mortal lock on the Ligue 1 title and tenured status in Champions League. But as Inara pointed out, players leave Lyon to make the kind of money Eto'o is demanding. They don't go there for that kind of money.
Eto'o and Crosas for Benzema! I'm sure you could talk Eto'o into that touching the right feelings.
If he fits somehow the new Lyon system, for them he's a far better throw at the CL than Benzema. Samu is a machine and if he gets role as leader he'll put some self-belief in that team.
Oh wait, we can give them Ezquerro too. Ok, he's not ours anymore but nobody knows that anyhow since nothing actually changed since his contract expired: nobody notices him.
I like this swap very much BUT it is sooooooooooooo difficult to happen. Eto'o don't like to play in Ligue 1 when he already has better opportunities. so this transfer is not going to happen.....DROGBA is the best solution for CF....
not gonna happen lets be real come on guys Lyon want close to 30 Mill Pounds for Benzema surely if Barca are gonna spend big money on a striker this year they wont be able to splach again next year. Benzema has already said he aint going nowhere this year remmeber the boy is only 20 he sure does look good though
I would have to concur with what everyone else has said. It's just not going to happen. I think Aulas is smart enough though to know that Benzema's time at the club will someday come to an end, but it won't happen just now.
I just don't see Eto'o playing in the French Ligue either. Sure he's guaranteed Championship League play, but the league as a whole is neither as talented nor as "glamorous" as La Liga, Serie A and the EPL.
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