Benzema worth the fuss?

Certainly the statistics suggest he is. Seventeen goals in 36 Ligue 1 games last season, off the back of 20 in the same number of outings the previous campaign.

Cynics may point out that Ligue 1 is a far cry from La Liga, but he has succeeded at the highest level too - nine goals in 15 Champions League games during the same two-year period proves that.

That kind of scoring record indicates the boy is a bit special in front of goal and, considering he is just 21, he still has his best years ahead of him - quite a scary thought.

Add power and pace to his scoring prowess and he appears to have all the attributes to succeed in Spain.

But questions remain over his temperament with whispers in France suggesting he can be a disruptive influence in the dressing room.

His fractious relationship with former team-mate Hatem Ben Arfa was widely recognised and Thierry Henry is rumoured to have clashed with him over a seat on the France team bus.

Have United missed out on a potentially world-class talent or have they done the right thing in leaving it to Madrid?

Will he be yet another unmanageable ego in the Bernabeu dressing room or could he be Madrid's star striker for years to come?

And who should United go for now?

What do you think?