Real Madrid News
Ex-Real Madrid manager hails Karim Benzema: “Worthy of the best player award”
Speaking at a press conference during a ceremony in Alicante (h/t Diario AS), former Real Madrid and Spain manager Vicente del Bosque has hailed Karim Benzema, claiming that his Ballon d’Or victory was well-deserved.
Benzema became just the second player to win the Ballon d’Or apart from Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in the past 15 years, following in the footsteps of Real Madrid teammate Luka Modric.
The 34-year-old enjoyed a stunning 2021/22 campaign when he led Los Blancos to the La Liga title and the UEFA Champions League trophy.
The French international had been the favourite to lift the Golden Orb and was handed the award this past Monday, by none other than former Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane.
The Real Madrid legend hailed his compatriot as one of the best strikers France had ever produced.
Now, another former Los Blancos boss has joined in to praise the 34-year-old striker, as he said: “Karim is worthy of the best player award.”
The ongoing campaign has been a bit up and down for Benzema as he went through a lean period and had an injury to deal with as well.
But the striker is looking like getting back to his best in the last two matches. Indeed, the French international was on target for Real Madrid against Barcelona in El Clasico and followed it up with another goal versus Elche on Wednesday.
In all, Benzema has scored six goals and set up one more in 11 matches across all competitions in 2022/23.
Arda Guler’s Real Madrid stint has not gotten off to the start he would have hoped to have given the expectation that preceded the transfer.
Having joined in the summer after Real Madrid outbid their competition to win him over from Fenerbahce for a 20-million-euro fee, buzz was high as the winger was expected to slot into the team quite seamlessly, albeit on a rotational basis.
Unfortunately for the 18-year-old, he has been constantly marred by injuries since completing the move.
Reports have stated that after Guler picked up his third injury since his move, Real Madrid have been concerned and want to take things slow with the player to ensure he is fit as soon as possible after an injury to his quadriceps this time.
The Turk is yet to make his competitive debut for the club, and Real Madrid even sacked their medical chief in November, in light of their injury crises since the beginning of the season.
No loan deal for Guler
However, according to Fabrizio Romano in a recent YouTube video, he states that Madrid maintain full trust and patience in the youngster.
Despite his bad luck with injuries, the latest of which he is scheduled to return from after Christmas, the Galacticos have no intention of loaning out Guler to Turkish clubs despite lots of speculation of them doing so of late.
Romano states that Madrid remain firm on not shaking things up too much with the squad, and they want to keep their roster stable, including Arda Guler.
They want to extend their full support and protection to the player as he aims to return to full fitness and finally make his bow for Madrid either by the end of this month or in 2024.
