Benzema vs Shamrock rovers by adriano89 (Debut real madrid)

Benzema vs Shamrock rovers amical 09 by me

Karim Benzema (Arabic: كريم بن زيما‎, pronounced /bɛnˈzeɪmə/) is a French footballer who currently plays as a striker for the Spanish club Real Madrid and the French national team.

Benzema came through the youth academy at Lyon and has been capped at senior level for France. He played in UEFA Euro 2008 and was the top goalscorer in Ligue 1 for the 200708 season, just three seasons after making his professional debut. This was also his breakthrough season which saw him earn many awards and a new contract which resulted in him becoming one of the highest-paid footballers in France.

On 1 July 2009, it was announced that Lyon had reached an agreement with Spanish club Real Madrid for the transfer of Benzema. The transfer fee was priced at €35 million with the fee rising to as much as €41 million based on incentives. On 9 July, Benzema completed his transfer after taking a medical and signing his six-year contract.

Real Madrid

Karim Benzema with Real Madrid

On 1 July 2009, it was announced that Lyon had reached an agreement with Spanish club Real Madrid for the transfer of Benzema. The transfer fee was priced at €35 million with the fee rising to as much as €41 million based on incentives.[45] On 9 July, Benzema successfully passed his medical and signed his contract, a six-year deal, later that afternoon.[46] He was presented officially as a Real Madrid player later that night at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, similarly to the previous signings of Kaká and Cristiano Ronaldo.[47]

Benzema made his Real Madrid debut on 20 July in the club's opening pre-season friendly against Irish club Shamrock Rovers in Dublin, appearing as a halftime substitute.[48] He scored the lone goal in the club's 10 win, scoring in the 87th minute.[49] On 24 August, Benzema netted two goals in Real Madrid's 40 victory over Norwegian club Rosenborg in an annual friendly tournament organized for the Santiago Bernabeu Trophy. The goals brought his total tally in the preseason with Real Madrid to five, making him the joint top scorer alongside fellow striker Raúl.[50]

He made his La Liga debut on 29 August against Deportivo de La Coruña.[51] Benzema scored his first official goal for Madrid on 20 September 2009 at home against newly promoted side Xerez.[52]

Lyon
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Early career

Benzema is a graduate of the Olympique Lyonnais Academy. Before joining Lyon, he trained at local Rhône-Alpes club Bron Terraillon SC in the commune Bron, a suburb of Lyon. His performances with Bron's youth team caught the attention of Lyon scouts and he joined the academy in 1996 at the age of 9.[7] Benzema quickly ascended up the ranks scoring 38 goals in one season with Lyon's under-16 team[8] and scoring 12 goals in 14 matches with the under-18 team before earning a call up to the senior squad by manager Paul Le Guen.

He made his league debut for Lyon on 15 January 2005 during the 200405 season in a match against FC Metz, coming on as a substitute in the 77th minute. Lyon won the match 20 with Benzema providing the assist on the second goal scored by Bryan Bergougnoux.[9] Five days later, he signed his first professional contract, agreeing to a three-year deal.[10] Over the next two seasons, his play was limited making a total of 34 appearances and scoring six goals, including his first ever against AC Ajaccio in a 31 win,[11] as well as his first UEFA Champions League goal against Norwegian club Rosenborg BK in a 21 victory.[12]