Versailles (AFP)

Star striker of Real Madrid, candidate declared for the Golden Ball in the wake of his performances with the Blues that he found in the spring, Benzema, 33, compared with four co-defendants, accused of being the actors of this attempt to blackmail.

His lawyer, Antoine Vey, explained his absence for "professional" reasons: the player, who faces 5 years in prison and a 75,000 euros fine, played a Champions League match in Ukraine on Tuesday evening and must prepare for the " Clasico "against FC Barcelona on Sunday.

An absence that Mathieu Valbuena's lawyer, who is present in the criminal court, "deplored".

During the investigation of this thorny case, Benzema's lawyers had indeed demanded - in vain - a confrontation with the plaintiff, so that the two men could explain themselves in this case where everything is a question of interpretation.

Benzema pleads friendly advice to Valbuena while the latter sees it as tortious pressure.

When he enters Valbuena's room at the Clairefontaine training center (Yvelines) on October 6, 2015, Benzema simply claims to help his teammate get rid of this compromising video problem, a type of blackmail that seems quite common in the middle of football.

- "Big thugs" -

The owners of the video are "big, big thugs," he warns.

Fortunately, Benzema can introduce him to a friend, "someone you trust," to sort out the problem.

Valbuena initially interprets her teammate's words as mere "friendly advice", before realizing that Benzema is linked to the instigators of this blackmail attempt.

Indeed, if the Real Madrid player does not talk about money at any time, his highly recommended friend is none other than Karim Zenati, an intermediary contacted by the two alleged blackmailers, to put pressure on Valbuena.

Mustapha Zouaoui, involved in the sextape affair, responds to journalists before the opening of the trial at the Versailles Criminal Court on October 20, 2021 Thomas SAMSON AFP

The two men at the start of this affair are Axel Angot and Mustapha Zouaoui, individuals gravitating in the world of football who have recovered an intimate video of Valbuena.

Seeking to profit from it, they try to get in touch with the player.

They first go through another international, Djibril Cissé, a time indicted before being dismissed, but the latter refuses to put them in contact with Valbuena and warns his former teammate in Marseille of the existence. of this video.

They then pass through Younes Houass, who contacts Valbuena on his phone before being put in touch with "Luka", an undercover police officer who acts as an intermediary for the complainant.

Combo of photos of Djibril Cissé and Mathieu Valbuena in the French team made on October 13, 2015 FRANCK FIFE, DENIS CHARLET AFP / Archives

But the exchanges do not progress and several times it is even "Luka" who relaunches Houass, which, according to the defense, constitutes a provocation to the infraction.

An argument that will ultimately be invalidated, after long legal twists and turns, by the Court of Cassation.

Angot, Zouaoui, Houass and Zenati are judged alongside Benzema and are present at the hearing.

Since this case, Valbuena has not been called up for the French football team.

Benzema, placed in police custody on November 4, 2015, stayed away for more than five years before making a surprise return before the Euro in June.

Since this return to media-sporting grace, he has multiplied the good performances with the Blues - with whom he has just won the League of Nations.

The French Football Federation (FFF) is a civil party in this case, despite the return to the France team of its star striker, considered by many specialists as a contender for the Golden Ball this season.

© 2021 AFP