Karim Benzema and Raphael Varane are two talented Frenchmen who call the Santiago Bernabeu home, and Real Madrid President Florentino Perez has backed the former in his court case and says the latter could one day become club captain.
French centre-back Raphael Varane signed on from club Lens in 2011 as an 18-year-old and has had 4 solid season with Los Blancos so far. Perez was full of praise for the young player and believes that he has what it takes to lead the club in the future.
“I am convinced that Varane will one day be captain of Real Madrid,” Perez said in an interview with France Football. [via: fourfourtwo.com]
“He is adored by the fans. Not only is he is a great player, he is also a great person.”
Perez also backed Varane’s compatriot and Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema to clear himself of the charges he is facing in court for an alleged case of blackmail against fellow French team member Mathieu Valbuena.
“We have supported him [Benzema] and we will always support him,” Perez said.
“Having spoken to him, I’m sure that it is impossible to think that he did something bad… He is a good lad and I am absolutely convinced that, above all, his intention was to help his friend Mathieu Valbuena.”
Euro spot in jeopardy
While Varane could see the 2016 Euros as a chance for him to announce himself on the big stage, his teammate Benzema might miss out on the competition if things continue to remain as they are.
The French Football Federation (FFF) have banned him from international competition until he is cleared of the criminal charges levied against him. Benzema was charged by a court in Versailles last November, and he will be hoping that he can prove his innocence before the French squad is announced for Europe’s biggest international competition, which starts on the 10th of June, 2016.
