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Benzema arrested by French police

France striker Benzema was arrested this morning, according to reports.

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The matter relates to a judicial investigation opened in July over claims that Valbuena was the subject of an extortion attempt.

In September, former Liverpool striker Djibril Cisse was arrested and questioned in connection with the same plot, but was later released.

Three other men have been arrested over the allegations.

Benzema, 27, is one of Real Madrid’s star players alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale.

Valbuena, who now plays for Olympique Lyon in French Ligue 1, had made a complaint to police in June this year, saying he had been asked to pay 150,000 euros ($165,000) in order to stop a supposed sex tape on him and his partner being posted on the internet.

Before Benzema was arrested, his lawyer Sylvain Cornier told the Sunday newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche that his client would respond to any summons. He is believed to be dating Analicia Chaves, 25, the ex-girlfriend of Belgium worldwide Axel Witsel. It is the second time he has faced police questioning.

Life is rarely boring in the world of French worldwide football.

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He and Ribery were investigated as part of a probe into an alleged prostitution ring, thought to centre around the nightclub.

Karim Benzema and Mathieu Valbuena