In a surprising turn of events, former Real Madrid striker and French international Karim Benzema has publicly criticized a current Real Madrid player, holding him responsible for the team’s Champions League exit at the hands of Arsenal.
During a recent press appearance, Benzema didn’t hold back:
“I warned Carlo Ancelotti about that player, but he wouldn’t bench him,” Benzema said. “He keeps causing issues for the team. He already cost us the first leg against Arsenal, yet Carlo still played him in the second leg. It made no sense.”
While Benzema avoided naming the player directly, the message was loud and clear: in his view, this individual doesn’t deserve a starting spot in the team.
“Honestly, that player shouldn’t be starting… he needs to learn some respect,” Benzema added, suggesting that the player’s attitude may be just as problematic as his performance on the pitch.
These strong remarks came in the aftermath of Real Madrid’s disappointing Champions League exit—an outcome Benzema believes could have been avoided if Ancelotti had listened to his warnings.
“I spoke to Carlo,” he said. “I told him this guy isn’t ready for top-level football. He lacks maturity. But Carlo trusted him—and now we’re out.”
The comments have sparked intense speculation online, with fans trying to identify the unnamed player. Although Benzema hasn’t revealed who it is, his frustration is clear—especially coming from someone who proudly wore the Real Madrid shirt for over a decade.
With Real Madrid now focused on salvaging the remainder of their season, Benzema’s words add another layer of tension around team selections and internal dynamics at the club.
Will Ancelotti take a different approach going forward—or is this just the start of a larger storm within the Madrid camp?
Stay tuned. The story is still unfolding.
