More than five and a half years after his last appearance in the Blues, Karim Benzema made his return to Clairefontaine on Wednesday noon.
The Real striker was awaited by several supporters, eager to find "KB9" with the France team.
After the reconciliation, the reunion: 2,058 days after his last arrival, Karim Benzema set foot again on Wednesday at Clairefontaine to launch the preparation of Didier Deschamps' Blues for the Euro and resume the thread of his French history.
Wink and thumbs up in the direction of the few supporters present, the Real Madrid striker walked through the doors of the Yvelines base camp around 12:15 p.m., among the very first of the squad to respond to the coach's summons.
Arrival of Karim #Benzema in Clairefontaine.
First image from @nich_mateo for the star's comeback.
@KMbappe has arrived.
We are in Clairefontaine.
See you live on @ Europe1pic.twitter.com / mTl7YXjDXm
- C. de La Morinerie (@Morinerie) May 26, 2021
"Welcome Benzeback!", Was thus scrawled on the piece of cardboard brandished by a fan of "KB9", who came to watch for this eagerly awaited return, scarf around the neck and tricolor cap screwed on the head, in the company of half a dozen 'other supporters.
Behind his mask with the blue-white-red border, Benzema was able to measure the distance traveled since his last visit to the Château.
Since October 7, 2015, the day before his last match with the Blues against Armenia in Nice (4-0), more than half a decade has passed without the center forward being able to wear the colors of his country.
Great welcoming committee for Karim #Benzema.
Ludo weeps for joy!
@ Europe1pic.twitter.com / x31ULDiGbw
- C. de La Morinerie (@Morinerie) May 26, 2021
Soon with the number 19 on the back
In question, the case of the "sextape" suffered by his teammate in selection Mathieu Valbuena, prelude to an international exclusion, by choice of the coach, then to an indictment for "complicity in attempted blackmail ".
But against all expectations, Deschamps did not finally wait for the judicial outcome of the case, judged in October, to recall Benzema.
This summons to the list of 26 players called up for the Euro (June 11-July 11), the coach has matured at length, after a decisive head-to-head with the 33-year-old striker.
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So he's back five years and seven months later, alongside players he has never seen on a daily basis such as Ousmane Dembélé or Kylian Mbappé, with one more star embroidered on his official tracksuit, and soon an unusual n ° 19 on the back.