Eighteen players to go in Real Madrid clearout

Up to EIGHTEEN Real Madrid players could be offloaded at the end of the season.

El Mundo Deportivo says Jordi Codina, Jerzy Dudek, Michel Salgado, Gabriel Heinze, Fabio Cannavaro, Javi Garcia, Mahamadou Diarra, Royston Drenthe, Wesley Sneijder, Rafael van der Vaart, Christoph Metzelder, Javier Saviola, Julien Faubert, Marcelo and Miguel Torres will all be either touted around Europe or allowed to wind down their existing contracts through to June 30.

The above 15 could be joined by trio Klaas Jan Huntelaar, Arjen Robben and Fernando Gago - all depending on how they perform between now and the end of the season.

There are also eight untouchables, who Real will not consider offers for under any circumstances: Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Gonzalo Higuain, Lassana Diarra, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Guti and Raul.

Benzema tells Man Utd, Barcelona to wait

Manchester United and Barcelona must wait for Karim Benzema after he declared he would be staying at Lyon next season.

"I'm going to stay at Lyon," he said on Friday, following a Lyon training session.

"I feel really good at OL, I am surrounded by good people and I still have time. I shouldn't have said I would make my decision after Barcelona.

"This decision will not be changed, whether or not we retain the title, whether or not France qualify for the next World Cup.

"At 21, I am still developing, I am going to get better and progress. At Lyon, I play regularly in big matches and I take part in the Champions League."