Thu Apr 17 21:18:56 2008

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Agent: Benzema will play for Lyon next year

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Lyon, France (Sports Network) - Manchester United's hopes of luring Karim Benzema away from Lyon appear to be over after the striker's agent claimed he will remain in France for at least another season.

Benzema has been linked with a move to Old Trafford after impressing Sir Alex Ferguson during United's recent Champions League quarterfinal success over Lyon.

The 20-year-old France international is expected to star during this summer's European Championship, but agent Karim Djaziri claims his immediate future remains with the French champions.

Benzema has also been strongly linked with a move to Barcelona after the Spanish club's sporting director Txiki Beguiristain traveled to France to see him in action.

"He is not going to leave Lyon," Djaziri told Marca. "I know that there are a lot of interested clubs, but he is still young and wants to stay and gain more experience.

"Next season he will continue to play for Lyon and then we shall see. He does not want to leave and that is why we renewed his contract a few weeks ago.

"There is no buy-out clause included as he does not want to move and Lyon do not want to sell."

(Courtesy of sportbox.tv)