PETE JENSON: Karim Benzema was derided by Jose Mourinho as a 'pussycat' in his early days at Real Madrid, but the master marksman can make history in Paris if he helps Los Blancos roar to glory in Paris

He could win his fifth Champions League with Real Madrid on Saturday and if he does, a first Ballon d’Or will surely follow.

But Karim Benzema could easily have ended up at Manchester United in 2009 instead of Spain.

Back when Real Madrid rarely lost out on a transfer target, they battled with Sir Alex Ferguson for a 21-year-old who France Football magazine had dubbed ‘Zinaldo’ because he had Zinedine Zidane’s technique and was as prolific as Brazil striker Ronaldo. Zidane helped Madrid get their man, advising president Florentino Perez to visit him in the Bron neighbourhood of Lyon where he had grown up.