Karim Benzema is the reigning Ballon d’Or winner, the best in the world last season at Real Madrid, and no doubt their best player too. There is no club where the demands are higher though, and recently a number of people have been asking for Benzema to be benched by Carlo Ancelotti.
The French striker has been battling fitness issues all season, and rarely seems to complete a full week of training. The 35-year-old has not missed as many games since the World Cup, but neither does he look close to being at his sharpest.
Against Barcelona on Sunday, this was once again evident, as Benzema struggled to get into the game in the second half, and could not connect effectively with his teammates. Rather than the exception though, this has been the rule for Benzema.
While 19 goals and 5 asissts in 29 games would be excellent statistics for most forwards, Relevo point out that at this stage last campaign, Benzema was on 36 goals. Equally, he seems unlikely to his 15 assists of last season. There is little doubt he is not the same player as he was last campaign though.
Why the obsession with playing Benzema every second that he's able to walk. Camavinga was one of the bright spots again, he should've been allowed to see the game out until the end. Rodrygo played with purpose off the bench. Deserves more. Starting XI shouldn't be so unshakeable.
— Kiyan Sobhani (@KiyanSo) March 19, 2023
Marca published a comment piece from Amalio Moratalia the following day after El Clasico that called on Carlo Ancelotti to bench Benzema – albeit more in a sense of resting the Frenchman more regularly.
Meanwhile Real Madrid correspondents Kiyan Sobhani called on Ancelotti to consider using Rodrygo Goes rather than Benzema given his current state of fitness.
No idea what RM fans are thinking these days but is it controversial to say Benz shouldn't be starting rn. Looks like a walking corpse and feels like we keep forcing him to play sub 100% fitness to the benefit of no one.
— Om Arvind (@OmVAsports) March 19, 2023
Benzema’s lack of fitness has been a problem all season, and it is not unfair to say that Los Blancos looked better in the opening stages of the season without Benzema, than they do now. Should his struggles with sharpness continue, it will become a point of major discussion ahead of a Champions League quarter-final of transcendental importance for the season of Real Madrid.
Meanwhile, Perez will apparently renew him for upcoming season.
Further comments redundant. Yeah, go on and save those millions we amassed in last decade with 5 cls in 10, Im sure Mbappé will change his mind THIS TIME AROUND
I don’t really understand why Madrid keep believing in Benz. I has nothing to contribute to the team at the moment. If Ancelotti continues using Benz , I assured you that Madrid will never see the light of the day. Madrid and Perez should start chasing Mbappe now and convince him with good pay.
Mbappe has made his choice and we should frankly respect that and forget about him. If he sees more success in PSG, well more power to him and sincerly – good luck.
Osimhen isnt a bad choice, maybe along with cut-price Salah. Both cheaper than Mbappe and depending on Salahs desire to join (wanted to play in la liga) maybe we could do shrewd deals there.
Leaves us with some money to buy a quality RWB, could be an option to see if Porro is interested in joining.
I support ur comments bro osiehme is the choice if could choose but Madrid is talking about vlahovic Juventus striker but was there at seria A and osiehme is toping him by goals and seria A top goals scorer Perez should think properly well
Real madrid must buy Mpape
I will blame florentino Perez for the mess los Blancos if facing in the forward right now he focus too much on mbape and left haaland with hope once he get mbape sign then he go for haaland
Haaland should be the first to get cos on the left wing we still Vinicius jr having haaland on the front would be a massive connect for Madrid team now he lost haaland to man city and mbape betrayed him and the team left hopeless with inconsistent of Benzema to me the president had to been blame cos he calculate the strategy wrongly
FOOTBALL IS OVER TIME SO BENZ NOW IS NOT ON NORMAL FIT AND BENZ LONGER STRUGGLING WITH DEFENDERS.SO HE IS NOT LONGER WORKING AS A STRIKER,IS BETTER FOR MADRID TO USE RODRIGO OR ALVARO THE BOY DESERVE ANCELOTI TO GIVE HIM CHANCE
LET US WAIT!
Vinicious is equally wasting more of the chances he gets and spend too much time on the ball, his finishes is poor and looks very unserious,he has to be more clinical inside the box,or he sees more of bench.
VINIZEMA
Useless and sentiment opinion of blaming Karim Benzema for all these burden he has carried ahead, instead of backing the management to find him a helper rather than abusing him