Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has hit back at France president Francois Hollande’s claims about striker Karim Benzema.
Benzema is one of five men under investigation by police after it was alleged that they were involved in an attempt to blackmail French midfielder Mathieu Valbuena over a sex tape.
The French striker, who was also embroiled in a probe into underage prostitution, but was exonerated of any wrongdoing in 2014.
In his new book entitled ‘Un president ne devrait pas dire ca’, which translates to: ‘A President shouldn’t say that…’, Hollande aims a shot at Benzema and pampered, modern French footballers who he believes need ‘gym classes for the brain.’
Referring to Benzema directly, the French politician said he was ‘not a good example of morality’.
The remarks have angered Zidane, who moved to defend his striker ahead of Real Madrid’s Champions League showdown against Legia Warsaw tomorrow and admitted that he was annoyed by Hollande’s remarks.
‘When you talk about a player, or players in general, it annoys me,’ the Madrid boss said. ‘It’s normal. In your work they can criticise you, but they cannot say such strange things. It is normal that it annoys the player. You must look to see exactly what [Hollande] said. But it annoys you, for sure.’
Although he has been cleared to return to France’s national squad, Benzema hasn’t played for his country since scoring twice in the 4-0 win against Armenia in October last year.
He was omitted from Didier Deschamps’ squad for Euro 2016 in France last summer, and looks no closer to earning a recall for their upcoming games against Sweden and the Ivory Coast in November.
Zidane continued: ‘Everyone can have their opinion, even more politicians. About Karim, the decision has been taken that he can be called up again, then you hear everything that is still being said. But what can I say. I do not share many of the things being said by some people. But I cannot change it.’
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