Sport says while Benzema has openly declared an ambition to play for Real, Barca sports chief Txiki Begiristain has spent the past six months in regular contact with his agent Karim Djaziri, including travelling to France for face-to-face talks.

Both Benzema and Djaziri have declared the striker intends to play this season at Lyon, but neither Spanish Liga club are prepared to sit idly by and let the other stake an advantage.

Indeed, Real president Ramon Calderon could still make a move for the 21 year-old this summer, particularly with his pursuit for Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo facing an embarrassing failure - just as his bid for AC Milan's Kaka did this time last summer.