• Macron claims that Benzema might have been left behind because 'he doesn't get on with the group'
• He pledges his trust to the team's coach Didier Deschamps
The President of France Emmanuel Macron was asked about Karim Benzema on Sunday. Real Madrid striker wasn't included in the World Cup squad despite playing an important role in his team's Champions League triumph this year.
"I'm the president of the Republic, not the coach of France," Macron told the reporters. "I love football and I can give my opinion, but in the end, the man in charge of the team is Didier Deschamps and I trust him."
Macron suggests Benzema was dropped for reasons not related to his performance on the field: "This doesn't change the quality of Benzema at Real Madrid, he's shone for years in Spain and he plays well in the Champions League. There are rules, the coach knows that even with a talented player if he doesn't get on with the group, everything can disintegrate."
The 29-year-old Real Madrid striker, who has scored 27 goals in 81 games for his country, has been exiled from the national team since being placed under 'Valbuena' investigation in November 2015.
French football federation chief Noel Le Graet recently backed Didier Deschamp's decision to not call up Benzema for the World Cup: "This is an old story, and we can't go back," he told L'Equipe. "Everyone agrees that he's a great player, he's always a starter with Real Madrid, but with France, he's part of the history. Our team now has a certain style, and we can't go back on that."
Benzema was quick to post his response on Twitter: "Mr. Graet, with all due respect, you've lost an opportunity to remain silent," Benzema said. "I've discovered your true face, and this isn't the one that said he appreciated me and wouldn't discuss the subject of team selections."
Why do you think Deschamps refuses to forget Benzema's past?
