Karim Benzema has his heart set on playing for Lyon again before retiring from the game, the striker's former agent has claimed.
The 33-year-old left the Ligue 1 side for Real Madrid in 2009 in an initial £30million deal, and the former France star has gone on to score 264 goals in 537 appearances across all competitions since his move.
His goals have helped the Spanish champions win three LaLiga titles and four Champions League crowns, but sees his contract with Zinedine Zidane's men expire at the end of next season.
And speaking to Inside Gones, Benzema's former representative Karim Djaziri claimed that despite his almost legendary status at Real, the forward wants to go back to where it all began for him in professional football at some stage.
'Will Karim Benzema return to Lyon? Yes, I think he wants to,' Djaziri said. 'He talks to me constantly and he watches the team's matches.
'On top of that, he has never been to the Groupama Stadium and in his mind it is something he wants, he has Lyon in his heart.
'There is everything at OL for Karim. He does not want to come back to Lyon and not have the legs.
'He is torn between leaving the biggest club in the world and returning to Lyon, it is a question of timing.
'In his dreams, he has to come back to Lyon and do great things. Wearing the armband with young people nearby, that can be magic.'
The Groupama Stadium replaced the French side's former ground, the Stade de Gerland, in January 2016.
This is not the first time Djaziri has claimed Benzema wants to seal a return to his former hunting ground.
When asked on OL TV in July last year if a return to Lyon for his former client is possible, he replied, as reported by Get French Football News: 'Yes I think that it is possible.
'If he still has legs and he says that now is the moment to go and do something good, he will come back.
'If it is not as a player, I can see him come back to Lyon in another role maybe. I know that he really wants that.'
Benzema has netted 15 goals for far for Madrid this season but little progress appears to have been made in extending his current deal.
Jobbmpsyz
1
hi you my players at I like ir
Alhadj86
0
Welcome back home
IkramNichari
0
its rumours
Gunners4ever❤
0
👍
👍
Reddevils72
1
👍
👍
Vucabcen
0
i am thinking Benzema better wait first Not to go away first..becouse Real is still need you and Real not have scorre now... Hazard is still in progress...with out Cr7 Real only have you to best scorre..i thing you can use Madrid to contineu next two year and pension your caryer in Madrid
Gunners4ever❤
1
the only thing you are doing is 👍
👍
Reddevils72
1
👍
the only thing you are doing is 👍
Nenbnotu
1
All who hated on big Binz knows nothing about football or Real Madrid
KaungHsetThar
0
Good new for Madrid fan, bad new for Zidane. If he go back to Lyon, Jovic will become main striker.Both for good
Want Haaland but don't like his agent
FCBArgentinaJohn
0
i don’t understand clearly
ShubhamChouhan
2
I sure that can't happen until Zizou is alive
Tutloth
1
Remeber there is nothing like home
SergioRahee69
2
Good new for Madrid fan, bad new for Zidane. If he go back to Lyon, Jovic will become main striker.Both for good
impossible, Coz Perez will buy a Decent Striker Surely
tessi100
0
there is a guy called tino kadewere who HAS HIS SPOT ALREADY in LYON (big BENZ said it himself)
Syahmi Bazli
0
Can he go now?
Imposible
0
[image]
No
Tocaelmsu
1
Bez go , zizou go we don’t need your anymore
StewartNyabadza
6
Gunners4ever❤
1
özil is far better
👍
Reddevils72
2
Benzema is good.
özil is far better
ABUL88868
0
If he leaves , Jovic needs to be the main striker
Maybe they purchase Mbappe
Gunners4ever❤
1
Ozil is better 😂😂🤣
👍
KaungHsetThar
1
Good new for Madrid fan, bad new for Zidane. If he go back to Lyon, Jovic will become main striker.Both for good
RoyAbhinandan
2
Benzema is good.
Ozil is better 😂😂🤣
Ameerul24
3
If he leaves , Jovic needs to be the main striker
vauacenpru
2
The earlier Benzema return to Lyon the better, Hazard should follow and return to Chelsea he's definitely an Hazard for the past two seasons he has signed. Madrid will always be Madrid, the biggest and most successful club in the world.
KingkonSheikh
1
So, that is why he posted the Lyon free kick yesterday 😏
😁😁
bipadlmr
2
I think Juventus or any other serie a team sign him
Kembirstuz
1
Then real will be death if only then they may get haaland
Just_A_Random_Guy
5
So, that is why he posted the Lyon free kick yesterday 😏
love_fotball
2
the best news i have ever heard
Beweklmn
3
Hopefully this will be the last season of Benzema to Real Madrid
Gunners4ever❤
0
Modrich is good i am good you’re good
👍
samir-rm
2
i wants to benzema should return to lyon quickly
ORUVAL3
1
Let him return for all we care.
IbraahimSajjadh
3
Benzema is good.
Modrich is good i am good you’re good
Gunners4ever❤
3
Benzema is good.