Benzema refuses France retirement tribute

Karim Benzema has snubbed the France national team with his refusal to attend the special tribute prepared for him.

The current Ballon D’or winner was supposed to get honoured along with new captain Kylian Mbappe at Stade de France before their opening game in the Euro 2024 qualifiers against Holland.

However, it was later revealed that Benzema sent the France Football Federation a short and fairly cold email that read “I won’t be available”.

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Benzema was furious with the way head-coach Didier Deschamps treated him, after the 35-year old suffered a thigh injury, which required only a minor treatment. However, Deschamps refused to bring him back to the squad for the World Cup in December, even when he was already fit.

That behaviour infuriated Benzema, who ever since has fallen out with his coach. The 35-year old even turned down an offer from president Macron to fly away for the final in Qatar, which the French ultimately lost to Argentina.

Descpamps refused to elaborate on the matter saying: “The subject is closed. It’s a closed subject — one that’s behind us because I’m not going to comment on any of it again.”