Former France worldwide Robert Pires fears the sex tape investigation involving national teammates Mathieu Valbuena and Karim Benzema could negatively impact the home side’s chances at Euro 2016.
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In the conversation purportedly transcribed, according to a translation by Spanish news site AS, Benzema and Zenati address one another as “bro” and discuss in detail how Valbuena appeared to be processing the blackmail threats against him.
He is said to have told Valbuena: “If you want the video to be destroyed, my friend will come to see you in Lyon”. I give you my word that the video will not get out.”He also claimed to have said to Valbuena: “I have come to see you because when I saw this video, I said to myself: “I can not laugh with you in the dressing room and not tell you”.
Benzema also discloses to his friend how he told Valbuena “you can see everything” in the tape, after the Lyon player asked: “Can you see my tattoos in the video?”
Investigators suspect that Benzema, who has denied any wrongdoing, was approached by a childhood friend to act as an intermediary between the blackmailers and Valbuena. “My performances show that I wasn’t there on holiday, but to work”, said Gignac.
They have won all four friendly matches played this season, including defeating Armenia and Denmark last month. He said: He wants money. You got to go see the guy.
KB: I said to him: “He (Cisse) did what?’ He said to me: ‘He paid”.
Benzema: What did he say to me, euh, you know at the beginning he believed, he believed (inaudible) you see, that it was a joke… “I have selected 23 players and they will provide me with a few answers in terms of the future”, added Deschamps.
“I said to him: ‘I’m going to sort it out for you. But my observations, I always have them.” .
KB: He said: ‘Thanks a lot and everything, let me have a day or two and I will tell you.’ He is going to call me.
“The atmosphere in the dressing-room will be appalling – with a few of the players blaming Valbuena for the exclusion of their top scorer”. You see, I said that to him.
“Knowing the two players, it’s delicate and surprising to see them in this type of situation, but they’re well aware that they have our support and that we’re thinking of them”.
France coach Didier Deschamps left both players out of his squad for today’s friendly against world champions Germany at the Stade de France and next Tuesday’s match against England at Wembley.
So there you have it for Benzema these days: Sex, drugs and soccer.
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Following France’s historic comeback from 2-0 down after the first leg in Kiev to defeat Ukraine 3-2 on aggregate with a 3-0 win in Paris to reach the 2014 World Cup in Brazil via the playoffs, Valbuena has been near untouchable (as Benzema has been for more or less the entire duration so far).
