Football
Ian Holyman, France correspondent 10y

Benzema vows to stay on at Real

Karim Benzema's agent has vowed the striker will not leave Real Madrid "whatever happens" this summer.

Though he was pivotal in Madrid's Champions League triumph last season, Benzema, 26, could find his place in Carlo Ancelotti's side under threat should the La Liga giants make their speculated move for Sergio Aguero.

The French international recently heard Ancelotti announce his hope the striker would remain at the Santiago Bernabeu, where he has a season remaining on the six-year deal he signed when he moved to the Spanish capital from Lyon in 2009.

Benzema's agent, Karim Djaziri, acknowledged in L'Equipe that the club hope to hold on to the forward, who struck twice in France's 3-0 win over Honduras on Sunday, beyond the expiry of his current deal, and that his client will stay put regardless of who is brought in.

"Negotiations started a while ago. We met Florentino Perez in September, in December, in March, and last Monday in Madrid. Yes, he has not yet extended his contract, but Karim is a man of his word and Florentino Perez wants him to stay as long as possible at the club of his dreams. What is certain is that Karim will not leave Real whatever happens."

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