May 31 – Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has slammed French Football Federation chief Noel Le Graet, who has claimed that the French national team has moved on from the striker.
Benzema and Le Graet have never been best friends and hostilities have not ceased between the two. The war of words rolls on following Benzema’s omission from France’s World Cup squad.
Le Graet had always given the impression that he was, among the few, to still back Benzema, but he told leading sports daily L’Equipe in no uncertain terms that the Benzema chapter has been closed.
“This is an old story, and we can’t go back,” said Le Graet to L’Equipe.”Everyone agrees that he’s a great player, he’s always a starter with Real Madrid, but with France, he’s part of the history.”
Benzema was banned from the French squad for the European Championship on home soil in 2016 after his embroilment in a sex tape scandal with fellow international and Olympique Lyon player Mathieu Valbuena. The scandal caused national upheaval in France and Benzema lambasted France coach Didier Deschamps.
But after the tournament Le Graet opened the door again for Benzema saying: “He’s up for selection, he’s not suspended. If Didier [Deschamps] wants to pick him, he can do when he wants [it]. He has total control. There’s no problem with Benzema; if he continues to play well, one day he will return.”
This time the door seems closed for good for the striker, who is 30. Benzema responded in kind, taking a swiped at Le Graet, saying that he had discovered the true face of the FFF president. “Mr. Graet, with all due respect, you’ve lost an opportunity to remain silent,” wrote Benzema. “I’ve discovered your true face, and this isn’t the one that said he appreciated me and wouldn’t discuss the subject of team selections.”
Benzema has 81 caps for France. He scored 27 times in the shirt of Les Bleus. The striker last feature for France in 2015 in a game against Armenia.
Last weekend he won a fourth Champions League with Real Madrid, defeating Liverpool 3-1 in the final in Kyiv. The French striker opened the scoring, following a blunder from opposing goalkeeper Loris Karius.
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