“I made the effort and the mistakes it took to be where I am today and I’m proud of it! I have written my story and ours is coming to an end.. The France team was still in the air when Karim Benzema announced his international retirement on his social networks yesterday afternoon. On his 35th birthday, the Real Madrid striker did not wait for the triumphant return of the Blues to block his counter at 97 caps and 37 goals.
An amazing way of communicating, but which perfectly illustrates the complicated relationship between the Ballon d’Or 2022 and the national team. However, we revealed to you exclusively that an arrival of Zinedine Zidane at the controls could make him change his mind. Except that, for the moment, this is not at all the current trend. Deschamps is said to be hoping to continue until 2026 and ZZ is increasingly considering getting back on the market.
Blame from both sides
In the meantime, the media are trying to unravel the mystery surrounding this sad end between Benzema and the Blues. Yesterday, we told you that tensions arose between the tricolor staff and the striker after the latter’s refusal to carry out a complete check-up requested by the Blues medical team. These tensions will logically increase after Benzema’s new injury.
This morning, The Team confirms that Benzema’s physical condition has indeed generated tension between all parties. Thus, the Merengue found it difficult to accept the choice of the staff to send him back to Madrid. Clearly, Benzema wanted to heal with the Blues, with the hope of returning to play the end of the tournament. A dismissal that the Madrilenian understood even less after seeing Deschamps not replacing him numerically.
The daily adds that those close to Benzema then accused the French staff of having mismanaged the player and above all of having imposed very extensive training on him the day before his injury. Yes, but the tricolor medical team also has its grievances. Relations with the medical staff of Real Madrid would never have been excellent and Benzema would not have shown “unfailing transparency” during his convalescence. Add to that complicated relations with Deschamps and you have one of the biggest mess of the national team.
