Real Madrid News
Benzema’s return to France’s World Cup camp never under consideration – report
Last night, reports emerged claiming that Real Madrid and France superstar Karim Benzema was close to recovering from the hip injury that forced him out of the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar.
Considering that France manager Didier Deschamps did not replace the 34-year-old following his injury and the fact that he still remains on the squad list, it gave way to speculations that the Real Madrid ace could potentially return to the World Cup camp should he regain full fitness.
However, according to the latest update from journalist Saber Desfarges of Telefoot, Benzema’s return to France’s World Cup camp has never been under consideration.
Instead, the striker has flown to the Reunion Islands for a small vacation and rest, following which he will return to Madrid to rejoin training ahead of the resumption of the second half of the 2022/23 season.
Benzema has been unfortunate with injury and fitness issues this season. Heading into the World Cup, he was struggling with muscular discomfort which led to him missing several matches for Real Madrid.
While that issues seemed behind him, the 34-year-old striker picked up a fresh injury that forced him out of the supershow in Qatar.
Despite recent indications that he is close to returning to full fitness, as things stand, there are no plans for Benzema to rejoin France in their World Cup journey in Doha.
The focus, hence, will likely be on regaining full fitness before Real Madrid resume the defence of their La Liga title with an away game against Real Valladolid on December 30.
Although Antonio Rudiger has had success since joining Real Madrid last summer, the club are in need of more depth and players that can form the backbone of the defensive unit in the years to come.
As part of their plans, Real Madrid are prioritising a move for Josko Gvardiol in the coming summer, reports 90 Min.
The outlet suggests Gvardiol will be one of the most wanted prospects in the market, with both Real Madrid and Manchester City eyeing a move for the Croatian international come the end of the season.
Formerly of Dinamo Zagreb, Gvardiol has enjoyed immense success since his move to the Bundesliga in 2021. He has impressed onlookers with his skill, organisation and discipline, which, coupled with his versatility, make him an appealing target for any European giant.
Gvardiol was also one of the top performers at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, helping Croatia finish third in the competition. His performances have not gone unnoticed, with Real Madrid among the clubs who have been keeping an eye on the defender for a while now.
However, signing Gvardiol will be a tricky task for Los Blancos. The player still has a long-term contract at Leipzig and could cost up to €85 million, as reported by 90 Min. Not to mention, the competition from Man City could be significant.
Real Madrid have no shortage of alternatives, though, with the club notably closely monitoring Portuguese defensive whizkid Antonio Silva, among others. So it will be interesting to see how the Spanish giants approach the market in this coming summer.
