Benzema offered Lyon return to finish career in hometown as player-coach

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas and sporting director Juninho are to offer the Real Madrid striker the keys to play out his career in France.

Karim Benzema is enjoying one of his most prolific spells at Real Madrid, currently leads the scorer's charts in LaLiga and is gradually working his way up the charts at the Bernabeu, recently overtaking Ferenc Puskas in terms of league goals in Spain and moving up to sixth in the all-time list of Real Madrid goal scorers.

However, Lyon may have other ideas about their former striker, whose contract at the Bernabeu expires in 2021.

"Karim may be a possibility," said the Ligue 1 side's president, Jean-Michel Aulas, in an interview with BeinSport. "We talked about it with [Benzema's agent] Karim Djaziri last year. During that time, there have been a lot of changes at Real Madrid.

"He has immense talent. Furthermore, he is one of the best players France has. For that reason it's not possible at this moment. But if the opportunity arises tomorrow or the day after… Juninho has already said as much and, generally speaking, when Juninho says he'll get something done, it gets done."

Sporting director Juninho also said that Lyon were looking at trying to bring Benzema back after selling the Frenchman to Real Madrid for 35 million euros in 2009.

"I would like to propose to Karim that he finish his career with us. We have been chatting via text. I'd like him to come and play two years with us and to train some of the younger players. He can be a leader for us. It would be a dream for Karim to end his career at home."