Karim Benzema rejected Man Utd approach with former club president revealing details of 'inferior' offer

Karim Benzema has already rejected an approach from Manchester United in the past.

At the weekend it was claimed by journalist Javier Parra Pena that United are exploring a six-month loan deal for Benzema.

Benzema has netted 15 goals in 24 appearances for Al Ittihad since calling time on his career at Real Madrid, however, Marca have alleged he is in manager Marcelo Gallardo’s bad books after missing several training sessions either side of the winter break.

And Pena has since claimed the France international and 2022 Ballon d’Or winner is set to move back to Europe, with United keeping tabs on the situation in January.

Benzema netted some 354 goals in 648 games for Real Madrid across 14 seasons at the club. But things could have been very different for the Frenchman had he not rejected an offer from United to sign for Real Madrid in 2009, despite the Spanish giants having made an ‘inferior’ offer.

According to former Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas United offered a higher transfer fee than the £35million Real signed Benzema for.

However, Aulas admitted he was prepared to accept a lower offer from Real and allow the player to fulfil a lifetime ambition.

He told beIN Sports: “When Karim was solicited to leave Lyon, we had two offers: Manchester United and Real Madrid.

“Karim, like Nabil [Fekir], came to see me, and that's where there are relationships that show trust, and told me ‘My dream is to play for Real Madrid’.

“And so he went to Real Madrid for an inferior fee to what we had from Manchester United.”

Benzema went on to win 24 trophies at Real Madrid including four La Liga championships, three Copa del Reys and five Champions League titles.

The Frenchman provided an effective foil for Cristiano Ronaldo, before taking centre stage at the club upon the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s departure.