Zidane Plays Down Benzema-Vinicius Junior Rift
Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has played down a purported rift between Karim Benzema and Vinicius Junior.
Benzema was caught on camera telling some of his teammates not to pass to the Brazilian in Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League game against German side Borussia Monchengladbach.
Benzema made the declaration at halftime when Real Madrid were trailing 1-0, but despite conceding another goal shortly after the break, the 13-time European champions rallied to salvage a point in the dying embers of the game.
Benzema did not make a single pass to Vinicius in the second half before the former Flamengo forward was substituted in the 70th minute, with the former France forward halving the deficit before Casemiro completed the comeback.
Zidane addressed the situation before Real Madrid’s La Liga game against Huesca this weekend, and he insists the relationship between the pair is fine.
"It is clear about Benzema and Vinicius," Zidane said. "They have talked to each other. Things stay on the field. They talked and it is perfect.
"There is no problem between them - the opposite. In the end, the important thing is that the energy is on tomorrow's game [against Huesca].
"Things like Benzema and Vinicius have always happened but they stay on the field. The only thing that has changed is that there are many cameras."
"Vinicius is young," he added. "He has a present and a future at Madrid. He is a boy who wants to learn and improve. He works and that is good for a coach and a team."
