Karim Benzema‘s agent has claimed the forward would have been available to play for France from the World Cup round-of-16 stage, but was sent home prematurely by coach Didier Deschamps and the team’s medical staff.
Benzema, 35, suffered a thigh injury in training on Nov. 19, three days before France’s World Cup defence was due to begin, with the French football federation saying he would need a three-week recovery period.
– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.)
Deschamps — after consulting with France team doctor Franck Le Gall — decided the injury required Benzema’s withdrawal from the national team, with Benzema returning to train with Real Madrid and later retiring from international football.
“I’ve consulted three specialists who confirm the diagnosis that Benzema could have been fit from the round of 16, to be on the bench at least!” agent Karim Djaziri tweeted on Monday, sharing a video of the player’s scan at a hospital in Qatar.
“Why did you ask him to leave so quickly?”
Djaziri has been outspoken in his criticism of the decision to send Benzema home.
