Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has repeated his call for Noel Le Graet, the president of France’s football federation, to stop talking about him after an interview with French media in which Le Graet said the 30-year-old’s time with the national team “was finished”.
“I have nothing against Karim,” said Le Graet. “He has always carried himself well in the French team, but I think Les Bleus are over for him, especially since he may be less fit than before.”
In response, Benzema tweeted, “Monsieur Le Graet, I ask you to forget about me. France are world champions and that’s the essential thing, the rest is just futile. Thankyou,” with the hashtags, “CaSuffit” (“That will do”) and “GiveMeABreak”.
Benzema has 21 goals in 81 caps for France, but has not played for the national team since 2015, due to his alleged role in the blackmail of France team-mate Mathieu Valbuena, a charge the striker denies. He is still awaiting a court ruling to see whether he has a case to answer.
This is not the first time Le Graet’s comments have prompted a response from Benzema, with the France official having said in a May interview that the striker was “ancient history”.
“Monsieur Le Graet, with all the respect that I owe you, you have missed an opportunity to shut up,” Benzema wrote then.
