Karim Benzema has had a disappointing start to his Real Madrid career - and Florentino Perez is already considering attempting to recuperate the £35million splashed out on him in the summer by selling him if he has not proven himself by the end of the season, rather than wait it out over the long term and risk seeing the player`s value diminish.

Win a signed Lionel Messi print

As previously reported in this column, Sir Alex Ferguson was keen on Benzema in the past and Manchester United thought that they had landed him last summer.

Could Ferguson`s interest be rekindled if Benzema becomes available next summer?

If Benzema is sold at the end of the season, Madrid would add the money to continue their pursuit of David Villa - who told me this week that he would now consider the Premier League - and Franck Ribery, who may have politely turned down moves to Chelsea or Man City and could already have agreed a move to the Bernabeu next summer.