Benzema's early career at Lyon

Karim Benzema began his professional football career at Olympique Lyonnais, where he played alongside Hatem Ben Arfa. Both players gained recognition in Ligue 1, and their talent caught the attention of Sir Alex Ferguson, who reportedly wanted to sign them both, calling them the "Ben Brothers."

Benzema's career path

Benzema moved to Real Madrid, where he became a star, winning five UEFA Champions League titles and a Ballon d'Or. He later joined Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia in 2023, but his contract with the club ended this summer. Rumors suggest he might return to Lyon, a move both the club and Benzema himself have considered.

Career continuity and controversies

Throughout his career, Benzema has played for only two clubs, Lyon and Real Madrid, before moving to Saudi Arabia. However, his time with the French national team has been marked by controversy. He was excluded in 2016 following the sextape affair and did not return until Euro 2021.

National team setbacks and return

At Euro 2021, Benzema performed well but suffered a minor injury before the 2022 World Cup, which kept him out of the tournament. Former French coach Didier Deschamps told him he would not be able to play, and Benzema left quietly. Despite this, he returned to the national team later, showing no resentment toward Deschamps.

Speculation on Zidane's influence

Karim Djaziri, Benzema's former agent, suggested that under Zinédine Zidane's leadership, Benzema might have remained in the squad during the 2022 World Cup. Djaziri noted that Benzema has not held a grudge against Deschamps, as evidenced by his return to the national team.