Didier Deschamps went public to reveal the contours of the controversial departure of Karim Benzema from the 2022 World Cup. In an interview with Le Parisien, the French coach guarantees that the Real Madrid striker did not have the physical conditions to compete in the competition.
It should be remembered that Benzema arrived at the training camp injured, after having played just 26 minutes against Celtic on November 2: “Karim was integrated on November 14. He was not, like Varane, in a position to start 100% in the first game against Australia. When he was injured, our doctor took him to the Aspetar clinic for an MRI scan. Karim forwarded the results to a doctor in Madrid. When he returned to the hotel, after midnight, he reunited me with Karim and our doctor. »
“Our doctor’s diagnosis coincided with the doctor in Madrid. ‘He’s dead,’ he told me. In the best case scenario, he could only return to training on December 10th. We were together for about 20 minutes. When I left him, I said, ‘Karim, there’s no rush. You organize your return with the team manager’. When I woke up, I realized that he was already gone. It is his decision, which I understand and respect », explained the France coach.
Karim Benzema returned to the pitches on December 15, for a friendly game against Real Madrid: “He played 30 minutes in a training game. Do you think it’s comparable to the intensity of a World Cup semi-final? Despite his talent and status, can you imagine him returning at the last moment? Karim himself told me he wouldn’t be up to it.”
′′ No player was satisfied with Karim’s departure, he also knows he said. After the World Cup, I had a conversation with Karim and asked him if he was available to return. He confirmed to me his decision to put an end to his international career. Don’t ask me what his arguments are, it’s up to him to explain it or not », concluded Didier Deschamps.
Benzema responds on social media
For the rest, and on social media, Benzema reacted to this interview by the 54-year-old French coach, and it wasn’t sweet at all. First, the Real Madrid striker shared an image of the interview and wrote over it “what audacity”, with an emoji of a clown accompanying it.
But Karim didn’t stop there. In the following publication, Benzema shared a famous video in which the phrase “liar, you are a liar” is said several times. To leave no room for doubt, he even added: “Saint Didier… good night.”
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