French Football president rules out Karim Benzema return
- by Juana Turner
- in Sports
- — Nov 17, 2019
French Football Federation president Noel Le Graët has revealed that Karim Benzema will never feature for France again, and the play wasted no time responding.
In defence of the Real Madrid player, Zinedine Zidane himself said: "Karim has always wanted to play with the national team". I have never criticised his qualities.
He has not played for France since the allegations were made, and that appears unlikely to change whatever the circumstances after Le Graet this week vowed a Benzema recall was out of the question. Moreover, at Real Madrid he is proving to be one of the best in his position.
La Graet has changed his stance, though, insisting on Saturday that Benzema - who remains without an worldwide appearance since the Valbuena affair - is not part of France's plans and the "adventure is over with the French national team". Benzema has not played for France since 2015, frozen out as part of the fallout from the Mathieu Valbuena sex tape affair.
"Noel, I thought you wouldn't interfere with the coach's decisions", Benzema wrote on Twitter. "If you think I am finished, let me play for one of the countries I am eligible for and we will see".
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Benzema, who already has 27 goals for France, is eligible to play for Algeria, his mother country in Africa.
The France global quickly responded to the jibe saying he can only end his worldwide career himself.
Pressure from fans to call in Benzema has increased with Olivier Giroud and Antoine Griezmann both in poor form, leaving Kylan Mbappe to shoulder much of the attacking load.
An overwhelming 73 per cent said Benzema has been the best French striker so far this season in a survey conducted by L'Equipe.
