Valbuena speaks out on Benzema's France recall

The 26-man squad called by French coach Didier Deschamps has raised a series of reactions by players and fans.

And one player that shocked the French media, players and fans is none other than Karim Benzema.

The Real Madrid forward was expelled from the Les Bleus squad in 2015 following a sex tape blackmail scandal. This is Benzema’s first call-up in six years since his dismissal from the French National Team.

His partner in the alleged sex tape, former French star Mathieu Valbuena insists he bears no hard feelings with Didier Deschamps for having recalled Karim Benzema to the national team fold. 

"If Benzema can bring more to the France team, that's good for him. It will be on the field that it will be played," he told Goal.com.

"It is the coach's choice. For me, Didier will be a winner in all cases. If the France team works, we will say that he was able to adapt and if it fails we will not blame him.

"He knows how to make his lists. He's very smart about that. Did he call me to let me know about his decision with Benzema? No, I don't expect anything from Didier, nothing from anyone. Today, I make my life and I have fun in the field. I have no further comments to make."

The former Lyon Midfielder has seen his international career come to an end in the aftermath of the sex scandal, which revolved around an alleged blackmail plot engineered by Benzema involving a sex tape. 

The 36-year-old Olympiacos star said, he totally admits that he was upset with the way his France exit was handled.

Valbuena also added that what pains him most is the grounds on which the coach dismiss him revealing that it was due to sporting reasons.

"The France team is something very special, and which accepted me a lot. When you have represented the national team, it's hard to accept that.

"When you see that today there are players who are called up and who play very little in their clubs, you tell yourself that there are rules for some and no rules for others.

"Don't tell me it was for sporting reasons. That’s what hurt and disappointed me. But then we had to move on to something else." Valbuena echoed.