Karim said how he felt – Deschamps talks about Benzema´s France recall

Didier Deschamps said Karim Benzema is free to open up about the talks that led to his surprise France recall in the future, but the head coach said details of such discussions will not come from him.

Benzema was last week named in France’s squad for the delayed European Championship following an absence of nearly six years.

He had been frozen out by Deschamps since 2015 having been embroiled in a blackmail scandal involving international team-mate Mathieu Valbuena over a sex tape.

The 33-year-old has denied the claims and is due to stand trial on the charge of complicity in attempted blackmail in October.

His recall followed another hugely impressive season for Madrid in which he scored 30 goals in all competitions, with 23 of those in LaLiga, trailing only Barcelona’s Lionel Messi (30).

Reporters quizzing Deschamps on Wednesday were keen to know what he and Benzema discussed prior to the decision to end the former Lyon star’s international exile.

But Deschamps would not oblige such requests.

“Karim said how he felt, I said how I felt too,” he told a media conference. “I understand you want details, but they won’t come from me, not from Karim either, for the moment. 

“If he wants to, he can. My decision comes from the fact that everything went well. 

“I have a group to manage, he was in this group, he is there again, here is the situation.”

CNF Clairefontaine

Début de la prépa  #FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/WO1mesebMS

— Equipe de France (@equipedefrance) May 26, 2021

Deschamps addressed the issue of vaccination, with every adult in France now able to book a slot to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, and the bubble the squad will remain in to reduce the risk of catching the virus.

He said: “I am not a doctor. Today, there is no obligation or recommendation from UEFA. Vaccination remains a personal decision. Some players may have been vaccinated on their own.  

“We made sure to vaccinate all the staff, who are a little older than the players. We are not 100 per cent protected, but we are in a very strict health bubble.

“We will make sure to be as vigilant as possible. From the moment a player is positive, it’s over, he’s leaving the competition. We all did a test today, everyone is used to it.”