Real Madrid issued a statement strongly denouncing Le Graet’s remarks regarding the team’s legends following the President’s remarks against Zidane and Benzema.
Zidane and Benzema collectively won numerous awards for Real Madrid.
Real Madrid has issued a harsh statement denouncing Noel Le Graet, the president of the French Football Federation, for his remarks about Karim Benzema, the current captain of Real Madrid, and Zinedine Zidane, a former Real Madrid and France player.
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Le Graet made some uncalled-for comments regarding Zidane’s potential return to the French national team as manager.
In response, the club released a statement calling Le Graet’s remarks disappointing and indicative of a “lack of respect” for one of football’s most revered players as well as a representative of Real Madrid and the French national team.
After France lost the World Cup final, Zidane, who played for France on 114 occasions and led them to World Cup and UEFA Euros victories in 1998 and 2000, was strongly linked with the coaching position. However, those rumors were put to rest when Didier Deschamps signed a new contract.
Zidane was formally eliminated from consideration for the position for the time being because, despite the final defeat, Deschamps was given four more years to lead the national team.
Le Graet was eager to talk down on Zidane while chatting with RMC Sport, claiming that he did not “give a toss” where the Frenchman ended up managing next in order to further demonstrate his devotion to Deschamps.
and had never given the three-time UEFA Champions League champion coach any thought as a candidate to lead the French national team.
When journalists inquired about Zidane possibly joining Brazil, he responded, “Zidane to Brazil? I couldn’ care less. He is free to choose between joining a club or the country’s team. It doesn’t really concern me. Did he attempt to call me? Absolutely not. For him, I wouldn’t have even answered the phone.
Le Graet is particularly infamous for his run-ins with Karim Benzema, the current Real Madrid captain, who was reputedly kicked off the national team at Le Graet’s request for a period of time.
While Benzema was banned from the national team, Real Madrid won four UEFA Champions League championships with his assistance. He even returned to the national team in 2021 to help them win the UEFA Nations League.
In one instance, Benzema was so angered by the President’s criticism of his abilities and performance that he took to Twitter to challenge Le Graet to let him represent another nation.
“Real Madrid C. F. regrets the awful accusations made by the President of the French Football Federation, Nöel Le Grat, concerning Zinedine Zidane, one of the greatest legends of international sport,” read the statement issued by Real Madrid on Monday regarding President Le Graet’s remarks.
“These statements show disrespect for one of the people who soccer fans around the world look up to, and our club demands that this be immediately rectified.
“Zinedine Zidane epitomizes the values of sport and has proven this throughout his professional career as a player and as a coach. He is the reigning world and European champion while defending his nation’s jersey, among many other trophies.
“The statements of the president of the French Football Federation are inappropriate for someone who holds that representation and disqualify themselves, as they also do about our captain Karim Benzema, current Ballon d’Or, champion of the League of Nations with France in 2021, and winner of five Champions League titles among many other titles,” the statement from the French Football Federation reads.