“He has become a very influential person”- Jorge Valdano on Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema
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Karim Benzema celebrating his first goal against Athletic Bilbao
The Real Madrid legend and commentator, Jorge Valdano, visited the home of the leading sports night program ‘El Larguero’ less than two weeks before the Champions League final. He visited the Gran Vía 32 studios on Monday to stop by ‘El Larguero’ and chat with Manu Carreño days before Real Madrid plays the Champions League final in Paris against Liverpool.
The former Argentine coach has touched on different current sports issues such as the white team’s comebacks in Europe, the probable arrival of Kylian Mbappé in the capital, and the Vinícius-Rodrygo comparison, and many more.
One thing that stood out in this interview was Valdano’s admiration for Los Blancos forward Karim Benzema. The french forward arrived in the summer of 2009 when the Real Madrid legend was the club’s director general and presidential aide. Speaking about Benzema, he has noticed maturity in his game and had no doubt of Benzema’s talents since the day he arrived at Madrid.
“He has changed a lot, even emotionally. He has become a very influential person to the rest of the players. He spends the game talking, broadcasting it, something unimaginable five years ago.”
“And then, their relationship with the goal, which is being extraordinary. I never thought that we would find another example that would reach the numbers of Messi and Cristiano so soon. Well, it was Benzema. I have always supported him as a superior talent. It was more for fun than by efficiency. Now he also defends himself with numbers, not just with words. You get the statistics and Benzema is already explained,” he added.
Valdano also had praised current boss Carlo Ancelotti who he believes is an integral part of the success.
“But in addition, something has happened this year that must be assigned to Ancelotti, all the players are better than in previous seasons. It has improved them all, even the consecrated ones, but especially the young people,” he concluded.
Karim Benzema in the 2021-22 season for Real Madrid
Karim Benzema has been Real Madrid’s key player in the 2021-22 season, having netted 44 goals in 45 matches for the Los Blancos. In addition, the French striker has also provided 15 assists.
The season is not over for Real Madrid as they still have to play the Champions League final against Liverpool. Interestingly, if Karim Benzema scores a hat-trick in the final, he will surpass Cristiano Ronaldo’s record and become the player with the most goals (18) in a single edition of the Champions League.
Also Read: RETRO LOOK: Real Madrid unveils its new kit for the 2022/23 season
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Sujeeth Shetty
(766 Articles Published)