Benzema left out of Real Madrid squad for Sevilla amid blackmail case

By foxsports
Published

MADRID - As expected, the injured Karim Benzema was left off Real Madrid's squad for Sunday's match at Sevilla, two days after he was charged with conspiracy to blackmail a France teammate.

Coach Rafa Benitez says he left the striker off his squad for health reasons. He says Benzema ''is in the final part of his recovery'' from a left-leg muscle tear. A French court charged Benzema on Thursday as part of an investigation into an attempt to blackmail Lyon midfielder Mathieu Valbuena over a sex tape.

Benzema has missed Madrid's last five matches due to the leg injury. Benitez did include Gareth Bale in the team after the Welsh winger missed four matches with a left-leg injury.

Benitez also said that Kiko Casilla would play in place of injured goalkeeper Keylor Navas.