Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema will be staying at Bernabéu according to club manager Rafa Benitez, despite the French-national being rumored for some time now to leave and join Arsenal.
"My answer is that I think Benzema is going to stay with us. I'm very happy with him. There's no reason to think that he's going to go," Benitez told reporters ahead of a tournament in Germany according to ESPN.
ESPN also reported that Benzema's agent Karim Djaziri said July that his client is "1,000 percent" staying with Real Madrid.
Madrid-based newspaper AS reported Sunday Arsenal's interest in signing the 27-year-old striker and said the Gunners already set aside €65 million to sign the forward from Los Blancos.
But both sides have already denied the rumors and Arsenal manager Arsène Wegner said after their FA Community Shield victory over Chelsea Sunday that nothing is happening.
"No, nothing is happening. Honestly, no. I don't know who brings that up. Is it Spanish media or English media? I don't know," Wegner said.
Another player Benitez said that will be staying with Real is midfielder Gareth Bale.
"Gareth is a huge player for us and I know that he's happy. I'm not going to talk about offers. Everything is well and he's going to have a good season with us I'm sure," Benitez said according to reports.
Meanwhile, Benitez refused to talk about Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea who has been reportedly a target for them since the start of the offseason.
De Gea has been linked to a move to Real but United already said they would not deal away the goalkeeper until Los Blancos captain Sergio Ramos is part of the deal.
Benitez said he does not want to discuss about players in other clubs when asked about De Gea adding that they already have three good goalkeepers.
