• SeeMyVision
    #2150
    Lyon are keen on Inter midfielder Patrick Vieira (32). A deal could be reached either in January or in the summer. Vieira would replace current Lyon captain Juninho, who will leave France or retire in June.

    Sztem ő nem kell!

    Lyon manager Claude Puel has insisted that the club will not sell France striker Karim Benzema in January.

    The 20-year-old hit-man has been linked to Arsenal, Manchester United and Real Madrid but signed a five-year deal in March.

    "We have to keep Karim Benzema," Puel told Le Parisien.

    "It's essential and a priority for the future of the club.

    "He needs another year to have the necessary skills to prosper elsewhere."

    Puel had previously expressed an interest in playing for Real Madrid or Arsenal, but added that Les Gones were the ideal club for his early development.




    Lyon's former Brazilian international midfielder Juninho has admitted that his stellar career is drawing to an end.

    The 33-year-old - who has been the inspiration behind Lyon's seven successive championships since he arrived from Vasco da Gama in 2001 - said that nevertheless he hoped he broke the century of goals mark at the club, which he is presently six short of.

    "I know that I am nearing the exit," conceded Juninho, who was capped 44 times and scored seven goals for Brazil.

    "I feel it is the moment to prepare for the future with my family.

    "The younger players could probably express themselves better without my presence.

    "I am under contract till 2010 and don't dare ask for an extension," he added.

    However, Juninho, who had already intimated last October that he wanted to retire soon, refused to be explicit about when he would eventually call it a day.

    "I have my ideas but I don't want to divulge them," said Juninho.

    "But the club doesn't know what date I have set and I hope they are understanding about it," added Juninho, who has two ready-made replacements waiting in the wings in the shape of Miralem Pjanic and Honorato Ederson.

    Juninho admitted he had played less often this term but believed he had lost none of his ability and confessed he still had targets.

    "When I see the applause when Steven Gerrard scored his 100th goal for Liverpool, I think to myself that is a nice thing to achieve."




    Juninho, a francia bajnok Olympique Lyon sokszoros brazil válogatott labdarúgója visszavonulni készül.
    Ebbéli szándékát személyesen a leginkább pompás szabadrúgásairól elhíresült középpályás erősítette meg, ám hogy pontosan mikor zárja le profi pályafutását, annak időpontjáról csak annyit mondott: rövidesen.
    A január végén 34 éves Juninho, teljesebb nevén Juninho Pernambucano a Vasco da Gamától érkezett a francia együtteshez - melynél 2001 óta szolgál és amelynek időközben a csapatkapitánya is lett -, s élő szerződése 2010-ig szól. A Lyonnal eddig hét bajnoki címet szerzett.



    Hajrá Lyon!