Karim Benzema’s lawyer says it was “surprising” to hear French Prime Minister Manuel Valls suggest that his client should not play for the national team again in the wake of the Mathieu Valbuena blackmail case.
Valls said on Tuesday said that a player whose conduct was not “exemplary” should no longer be considered for Les Bleus selection.
Benzema is set to talk about his situation for the first time on French television on this evening.
Benzema’s lawyer Alain Jakubowicz questioned Valls, who is known to be a big fan of Barcelona.
“Is it the supporter of Barca or the prime minister who’s spoken about a leading player of Real Madrid?” Jakubowicz told Le Parisien.
He added: “More seriously, I’m surprised, in the dramatic context in France (after the November terror attacks) that the prime minister of the republic might give an opinion in a very peremptory manner on a matter that he knows absolutely nothing about. I think he has other things to deal with.”
Jakubowicz also revealed that Valbuena’s evidence before a judge was not as damning as the Lyon midfielder’s interview with Le Monde would lead people to believe.