The president of OL, Jean Michel Aulas, has completely exposed himself via brand, in a letter sent to his former protege Karim Benzema (34), crowned Ballon d’Or for the first time in his career on Monday October 17 at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. The one called “KB9” or “Nueve” started in Lyon, his training club where he played a total of 148 matches for 66 goals scored and 27 assists in 2005 and 2009 before flying to his dream of Real Madrid. When Karim Benzema obtained his first selection for the France team in March 2007 at the age of 19, it was also in the jersey of Olympique Lyonnais. Today, Real Madrid’s number 9 has 97 caps for 37 goals.
“Dear Karim,
We are all very proud of you, of your journey from the OL academy to Real Madrid, including the France team. This magnificent Ballon d’Or is a new stage in your life, the consecration of all your work, of all your sacrifices, and also the start of something where nothing will be the same. You are a football legend, you are a role model for other generations. Strong throughout your history, with a deep bond of friendship between Algeria and France, being exemplary and with many lessons learned. We have always believed in you, we have always accompanied you with our thoughts, because we knew that this day would come, that you would be Ballon d’Or. Now I like to think that one day you will have to write a letter to a Ballon d’Or. A young man that you will have followed, inspired, or who knows, trained in an academy like that of Olympique Lyonnais. He may already be there, he may have seen you receive this award before and deep down he knows he wants to be like you. This Ballon d’Or is that of the people, but it is also that of all those who have the means to realize their dream and who sometimes only need inspiration to gain confidence and achieve them. »
