Benzema 'motivated and enthusiastic': Ancelotti
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti insisted Thursday that French striker Karim Benzema has returned to La Liga from his World Cup nightmare "motivated and enthusiastic."
Ballon d'Or winner Benzema was selected in the French squad for the World Cup in Qatar but a thigh injury in training saw him forced to withdraw before the opening game.
He then announced his retirement from international football following the tournament where France were runners-up to Argentina.
"I don't want to say anything about the decision that France made. They said he couldn't play at the World Cup. We saw a guy come in both motivated and enthusiastic," said Ancelotti of a player who has racked up more than 600 matches in 12 seasons in the Spanish capital.
"He will be a great help over the second part of the season."
Benzema had been desperate to feature in this year's World Cup having not been selected when France became world champions in Russia four years ago.
He was frozen out of the France team for five and a half years because of his involvement in a blackmail scandal over a sextape involving his former teammate Mathieu Valbuena.
In a trial over the affair last year he was handed a one-year suspended prison sentence and fined 75,000 euros ($79,500).
Benzema scored 37 goals in 97 appearances for France.
Real Madrid resume their La Liga season on Friday at Real Valladolid where victory would see them leapfrog Barcelona at the top of the table.
-
2016's $400 GPU vs. 2019's $400 GPUsResearcher hacks into Elon Musk's Starlink system using $25 homemade device多举措 强监管 净化校园金融市场环境康养新城又添一处城市生态公园Yes, big spiders are spreading in the U.S. No, they're not flying.North Korea prohibits smoking in public places'Rye Lane' review: Lovable losers romLiverpool on cloud six after big win高温难耐,工会驿站化身“清凉小屋”Unification ministry says 'no communication channel to contact North Korea'
- ·By a technicality, August's full moon is blue. Here's why.
- ·North Korea will not sell off 'dignity' for development, security: UN ambassador
- ·North Korean apology for killing incident a 'helpful step': US
- ·Kipchoge targeting Boston victory
- ·Where to pre
- ·Zoom announces AI features that act as your personal assistant
- ·Herald Retirees' Gathering
- ·DP lawmaker says he will leave party amid cryptocurrency scandal
- ·CPUs Don't Matter For 4K Gaming... Wrong!
- ·近500个农业新品种亮相!这场观摩会汇聚中山种业发展成就
- ·Zoom announces AI features that act as your personal assistant
- ·North Korea's new ICBM 'built with latest missile technologies'
- ·尝“鲜”盛宴,等你来探!2024年清远西牛麻竹笋尝鲜季即将启幕
- ·Former North Korean diplomat named president of South Korea's unification institute
- ·US 'disappointed' to see North Korea prioritize weapons: US official
- ·Mark Zuckerberg backtracks after Horizon Worlds backlash
- ·I used the Pixel 9 Pro XL in the shower — does the screen work when wet as claimed?
- ·Peaty out of world swimming championships
- ·Airbnb is testing its anti
- ·近500个农业新品种亮相!这场观摩会汇聚中山种业发展成就
- ·A Global Tour of Bakeries With Fascinating Histories
- ·康养新城又添一处城市生态公园
- ·PGA Tour releases autumn schedule
- ·弘扬雷锋精神 争创时代新青年
- ·Venture Missionaries
- ·Military inspects security posture following North Korean's border crossing
- ·Webb telescope discovers 6 rogue worlds. They didn't form the way you'd expect.
- ·Liverpool on cloud six after big win
- ·Pyongyang holds fireworks, marches to celebrate party anniversary
- ·Nadal pulls out of Madrid
- ·This shark lives for centuries. Scientists discover how it resists aging.
- ·Man beats mother to death for refusing to let him move out
- ·上演视听盛宴 丰富市民文化生活
- ·青砖黛瓦藏古韵 绿水青山好风光
- ·World's first 18650
- ·8 podcast for building your side hustle