LYON, France (AP)—French forward Karim Benzema is following Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka to Real Madrid.

Lyon agreed Wednesday to sell the 21-year-old to the Spanish team, which was competing with Manchester United to obtain Benzema. The French club said on its Web site that Madrid will pay a minimum fee of 35 million euros ($57.4 million), rising to up to 41 million euros ($67 million) with performance bonuses.

Under new team president Florentino Perez, Real Madrid bought 2007 FIFA player of the year Kaka from AC Milan last month in a deal said to be worth 65 million euros ($92 million) and spent a record 80 million pounds ($131 million) to purchase 2008 FIFA player of the year Ronaldo from Manchester United.

“The player wishes to take the opportunity offered to him by Real Madrid to become one of the key players in an ambitious new policy involving several of the world’s biggest players,” Lyon said.

Benzema has 12 goals in 19 Champions League games and six goals in 24 appearances with France’s national team.

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