Suarez could've replaced Benzema says Puel

Updated: 12 Oct 2021 14:52 BST
3 min read

Atletico Madrid striker Luis Suarez — © ProShots

Luis Suarez and Karim Benzema are undoubtedly two of the best strikers, and even players, to grace a football pitch over the past decade.

The pair have won countless trophies and scored countless goals over the years, and their quality is easy for all to see.

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However, while they have always been rivals in Spain, they could've had something in common: Lyon.

Benzema was a fresh-faced 21-year-old when he left French shores, and Lyon, to move to Real Madrid. That signing happened in 2009, the same window as Los Blancos bought Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo, and it occurred after Benzema had netted 37 league goals in his final two seasons at the club.

He was even nominated for the 2008 Ballon d'Or despite his young age. Real Madrid had so much faith in him that they paid Lyon a huge €35 million, rising to €41m, to acquire his services.

So, while Benzema was on his way to Madrid, Suarez was still at Ajax. His move to Liverpool was still a couple of years away, and he'd netted 39 goals and 29 assists in the Eredivisie during his first two years at Ajax.

That form prompted interest from Claude Puel's Lyon, who viewed Suarez as a potential replacement for the departed Benzema.

© ProShots - Benzema could've been replaced by Suarez at Lyon

What has been said?

Puel, who was in charge of Lyon between 2008 and 2011, recently spoke to France Football, and revealed this: "Karim Benzema was gone, Fred had left us a little earlier. A page was turned. And it took a high level to replace this duo.

"At the time, we hesitated for a long time between Lisandro Lopez and Luis Suarez, then at Ajax. I really liked this player [Suarez], but in the end we chose Lisandro who came from Porto with more important European experience."

Suarez, instead, remained at Ajax, honing his craft until Liverpool signed him as their Fernando Torres replacement, as well as Andy Carroll, in January 2011.

The Uruguayan tore the Premier League apart before eventually moving to Barcelona, where he and Benzema became enemies in El Clasico.