October 2015: on the sidelines of a Blues gathering in Clairefontaine, Mathieu Valbuena and Karim Benzema discuss an intimate video of the first named who has been the subject of an attempted blackmail for four months. The so-called sex tape affair broke out a few days later, and Benzema found himself in police custody for his alleged relationships with the blackmailers.
This unfortunate episode revived at the time the old demons of a French team weakened or even discredited a few years earlier by the Knysna fiasco. Public opinion is getting carried away. And the Real Madrid striker found himself sidelined from the national team for more than five years. Before an unexpected reminder for Euro 2020 (played in 2021).
Valbuena never recovered from this affair on the international level. “ It was a difficult moment, it deprived me of the France team. I wasn't called again after that. I would have preferred to no longer be in the French team due to poor performances than to leave like that. But that’s life… That’s how it is. Now it's behind me », he whispers this Thursday on the airwaves of RMC.
“I know what happened,” insists Valbuena
“ In this story, I filed a complaint against people who wanted me to pay for a video. I immediately said that they would not receive a euro. I followed through on my convictions. These people wanted to hurt me, but I never gave in. No matter the content of the video », Says the former Marseillais, whose tricolor counter will have remained stuck at 52 caps (for eight goals and 16 assists).
In November 2021, Benzema was sentenced to one year in prison and a fine of 75,000 euros by the Versailles criminal court. This for complicity in attempted blackmail. A judgment at first instance which the 2022 Ballon d'Or appealed before changing its mind. “ Have I had contact with Benzema since then? No wayconcludes Valbuena, ten years after the fact. Everyone makes their own life. Talk to him if I see him again? I don't know. But I don't hold grudges, I don't wish harm on anyone, I want them to be happy in their family life and football-wise. I know what happened. We definitely won't go on vacation together. »
