If any player can say he had a perfect season, it was Karim Benzema. In 2022 he did it all with Real Madrid: Champions League, La Liga, Spanish Super Cup, and European Super Cup and scored 44 goals in 46 games, many of which were crucial and last-minute winners. But this season is a different story. And somehow it all started with the World Cup in Qatar. Benzema got injured just before the tournament, stayed with the team but eventually left the squad and from that moment on, the rumours began to spread.Karim Benzema on Instagram after Deschamps said it was the strikers choice to leave the Qatar World Cup camp… “The audacity of this 🤡! Holy Didier. Goodnight.” pic.twitter.com/PAEjej06iQ— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) March 10, 2023 He was prematurely sent home, he left on his own, he could have stayed until the finals….and it went on and on after the player decided to officially end his tenure with France’s national team. And the current coach Didier Deschamps gave an interview with the Parisien, and among other things, gave his version of Benzema’s episode in Qatar.”There is only one truth and Karim knows it well. Karim joined on November 14 after a period of semi-inactivity at the club (his last game with Real Madrid was on November 2 against Celtic, he had played 26 minutes). He followed an individualized program, his return to collective training was postponed. He wasn’t 100 percent sure that he could start the first game against Australia. When Karim got injured, our doctor took him to the Aspetar clinic for an MRI. Karim sent the results to a doctor of his in Madrid who also gave him his opinion. When he returned to the hotel, it was already past midnight. I met Karim in his room with our doctor who had come to give me the MRI report”Benzema’s agent presented evidence of the injury with a question to Deschamps: Why did you write him off so quickly?Deschamps then went on and explained how the actual departure took place.”Karim is upset because this World Cup meant a lot to him. He told me he was dead. In the best of cases, his return to training could not come before December 10. In his statement on his social network, he expresses his disappointment at having to leave, but he justifies this choice by his concern to think about the team. We were together for about twenty minutes. When I leave him, I tell him: ‘Karim, there’s no rush’. You organize your return with the team manager. When I I wake up, I realize he’s gone. It’s his decision, he won’t tell you otherwise, I understand and respect that” said the French coach.It looks like that’s it: Karim Benzema done with the national teamOne of the stories which kept coming back was that the rest of the squad was not so happy with Benzema and that nobody got upset when he left the team. Deschamps denied that as well.”No player was happy with his departure according to what could be heard or read. Karim also knows it. I don’t know who spreads those rumors. It’s not even controversy anymore, it’s malice. If the smiles appeared it was not because Karim had left us, but because the team was winning. I called him after the renewal of my contract. We had a long talk. I called him again more recently to find out his predisposition for the next calls and he confirmed his decision to end his international career. Don’t ask me about his arguments. It will be up to him to communicate them or not” said Deschamps.OFFICIAL: Real Madrid squad to face Espanyol. ❌️ Benzema, Mendy, Alaba pic.twitter.com/XtkgjbYHEO— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) March 10, 2023 After the interview, Benzema took his Instagram account to respond to his former France coach. As usual, he was not direct but used a ‘smoke screen’. Benzema posted Deschamps’ response to Le Parisien and along with the phrase “But how daring” he added and “dear Didier, good night”. Both phrases are accompanied by the face of a clown. He also assures that with this version of events Deschamps “lies”.LA LIGA – ROUND 25FridayCadiz – Getafe 2-2 (1-0)/Sobrino 39, Alcaraz 82 – Unal 62, 90+16/Saturday16:00: (1.33) Real Madrid (6.00) Espanyol (11.0)18:15: (2.70) Elche (3.10) Valladolid (2.85)20:30: (2.24) Celta (3.25) Rayo Vallecano (3.80)23:00: (2.30) Valencia (3.25) Osasuna (3.60)Sunday16:00: (3.40) Mallorca (3.00) Sociedad (2.55)18:15: (1.79) Sevilla (3.70) Almeria (5.40)20:30: (2.09) Villareal (3.60) Betis (3.80)23:00: (3.60) Ath.Bilbao (3.25) Barcelona (2.30)Monday23:00: (3.70) Girona (3.30) Atl.Madrid (2.20)***odds are subject to change***
