TOP STORIES - Valbuena: I felt in danger after blackmail attempt
Mathieu Valbuena, a former France international, said he "felt in danger" after being targeted in a blackmail attempt involving a sex film over which his former colleague, Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema, is on trial.
Benzema, a France striker, is accused of aiding and abetting an effort to extort money from Valbuena in 2015 over a film that was copied from his smartphone.
The scandal devastated the French national squad, and the 33-year-old Madrid star was kicked out for five and a half years before making a surprising return this year.
Valbuena, who was also kicked off the team because of the squabble, told the court at the start of the trial on Wednesday that he was afraid for his job when he realized he was being blackmailed.
Benzema did not attend the proceedings in Versailles, despite scoring the fifth and final goal in Real Madrid's 5-0 triumph over Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League group stage in Kiev on Tuesday night.
He risks a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of 70,000 euros ($81,000) if convicted.
He is being tried with four other defendants, including the two alleged masterminds of the blackmail scheme.
In his press conference ahead of AS Roma’s clash with Pisa, Gian Piero Gasperini also addressed questions about Jadon Sancho, with the Manchester United winger having been strongly linked with the club in recent weeks through sporting director Ricky Massara.
Are you...
Real Madrid have opted for a sweeping shake-up after an exhausting campaign, and the clear-out has begun on the touchline. Not even the men’s first-team job was spared: none of the coaches heading the club’s flagship sides will be in place next season. After...
Eddie Howe has hinted for the first time that he may be prepared to sanction Alexander Isak’s departure from Newcastle. The Swedish striker, who has long shown his discontent, told the club’s owners in a private meeting at his Northumberland home last Monday that...
With the transfer window closing in a matter of days, Olympique Marseille are still busy on the market. Yesterday Hamed Junior Traoré arrived in the city for his medical, but the club’s business is far from finished. A further three or four signings are...
A European heavyweight has entered the race for a player on Roma’s radar: Chelsea’s Tyrique George. According to Sky Sport Germany, Bayern Munich are assessing further options on the left flank and the 18-year-old winger, coached by Enzo Maresca, has emerged as a...
