Football
Karim Benzema: Real Madrid back French striker
Published 0813 GMT (1613 HKT) November 6, 2015
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Real Madrid's website describes Karim Benzema as "a precocious talent," who is widely considered to be one of best all-round forwards in the world. Javier Soriano/AFP/Getty Images
But this 'precocious talent" is now accused of blackmailing fellow France international footballer Mathieu Valbuena. David Ramos/Getty Images
Benzema is pictured leaving the court house in Versailles, near Paris on November 5. MATTHIEU ALEXANDRE/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
Valbuena (C) and Benzema (L) are pictured together at French training session at the Maracana Stadium Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on July 3, 2014, ahead of their match against Germany in the quarterfinals of the 2014 FIFA World Cup on July 4. AFP/Getty Images
Before the start of this season, the Frenchman has put together five consecutive campaigns in which he had scored at least 20 goals for Real Madrid. DIMITAR DILKOFF/AFP/Getty Images
Benzema (right) slides his shot past Cladio Bravo to score Real Madrid's third goal against Barcelona in a 3-1 win at the Bernabeu in October 2014. DANI POZO/AFP/Getty Images
Benzema signed for Real Madrid from French club Lyon in 2009. Getty Images
Karim Benzema has played 81 times for France and is pictured celebrating after scoring his team's third goal during the World Cup Brazil Group E match against Honduras at Estadio Beira-Rio on June 15, 2014 in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Paul Gilham/Getty Images
