Karim Benzema hopes to be able to play again for France, despite the ongoing police investigation that saw him excluded from their Euro 2016 squad.
Karim Benzema has told TF1 he hopes to be able to play again for France, despite the ongoing police investigation that saw him excluded from Les Bleus‘ Euro 2016 squad.
Benzema, 28, has not played for his country since Oct. 2015 after which it emerged the Real Madrid striker was part of an alleged attempted extortion of his international teammate, Mathieu Valbuena.
Both he and Valbuena, previously mainstays of Didier Deschamps’ line-up, missed the European Championship as a consequence of the investigation.
Benzema, who denies any wrongdoing, said he still hopes to add to the 81 caps he has previously earned.
“The national team coach has said I’m available for selection now,” the forward, who has scored two goals in five La Liga games for Madrid this term, said. “I am doing my work with my club. Everyone waits to get called up.
“I’m a footballer, I love the France team so of course I’m going to wait. You play football for that. I play at Real Madrid, at a great club. And I love my country. There’s a national team coach. He makes choices. In any case, I’m ready.”
Source: Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema ‘ready’ to make France return – ESPN FC
