CONFIRMED! – Karim Benzema responds to Man Utd transfer link after private Sir Alex Ferguson talks

CONFIRMED! – Karim Benzema responds to Man Utd transfer link after private Sir Alex Ferguson talks

Al-Ittihad striker Karim Benzema has ruled out a transfer this month after the former Real Madrid star was linked with the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United

Al-Ittihad striker Kaim Benzema arriving ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup match with Auckland City

Karim Benzema has shut down suggestions that he could leave Al-Ittihad this month to join a Premier League club.

The legendary Real Madrid striker, 36, quit the Bernabeu in the summer to join the exodus of high-profile stars who sealed lucrative transfers to the Saudi Pro League, but there have been several reports claiming Benzema is already angling for a return to Europe.

Former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson tore up his lucrative contract with Al-Ettifaq after just six months to join Ajax last week, while Aymeric Laporte recently revealed there were ‘plenty of dissatisfied players’ in the Gulf State.

Not only has Benzema been linked to the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United, but a return to his former club, Lyon, has also been touted. But the veteran has now emphatically denied such claims via French outlet L’Equipe, saying: “It’s completely false! The French media don’t know what to invent any more. The bigger the better.”

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Benzema’s reluctance to entertain a move away from Saudi Arabia means Manchester United are set to miss out on the Frenchman for a second time.

Old Trafford legend Sir Alex Ferguson was an admirer of the striker, with former United defender Rio Ferdinand telling BT Sport that he even tried to talk Benzema into a move in the tunnel after a match with Lyon back in 2008.

He recalled: “Sir Alex Ferguson wanted to sign him after that game. Sir Alex was speaking to him in the tunnel after the game and I remember some of their officials came and ushered him away. Sir Alex Ferguson wanted him. I played that game and, straight away, saw his movement. Beautiful footballer.”

United had cash to splash at the time after selling Cristiano Ronaldo for a then-world record fee, but Ferguson revealed that they were reluctant to go over their valuation for the striker, who went on to join Ronaldo at Real Madrid.