Benzema, with blood in his eyes

Benzema wants to talk... and he's causing people to talk. Especially for Valdebebas, where he has been crushing himself since November 19, when Deschamps prepared the plane for him back to Madrid, after suffering a -mild- injury to the quadriceps in his left leg. "I'm sorry, but you have to go," were his words. And Karim, incredulous (he saw himself reaching the round of 16), did not return. The frustration of the situation filled his rage tank and ever since, he has been ultra-motivated. Channeling emotions is sometimes difficult, but if it is achieved... it is automatically dynamite. And as AS has been able to learn, the buzz is circulating around Real Madrid City that Karim seriously wants revenge.

To 'answer' many with goals. Going back to being the player who dazzled last season and established himself, on his own merits (44 goals in 46 games; including five in the three major European comebacks), the Ballon d'Or. longing for season: he only has 954 minutes, being 13th in the squad, behind Rüdiger (1,001') and Rodrygo (1,360'), among others. He only has six goals and, for the first time since he landed in Chamartín in the summer of 2009, he has remained without scoring in a Champions League group stage. Injuries and 'muscular fatigue' have been weighing him down. But it is already past.

He has been training for weeks without an iota of pain. 'Finally', she will think, after months of instability. A journey that began on September 6 in Glasgow and has made him miss 43% of the games this season (nine of the 21). First: Mallorca, Leipzig and the derby in the Metropolitan. He returned, played two games and the now famous two words were born: 'muscular fatigue'. A shadow that followed him some time later and generated a huge debate, making him invisible in the weeks leading up to the World Cup (in the last six games he only played 26', inconsequential and undemanding, against Celtic). From there to Qatar. And from Doha, to Madrid. In total, this season he accumulates 63 days in the infirmary.

But... clean slate. That is the question. After Deschamps' 'contempt', he has changed the chip and is sweating in Valdebebas like nobody else. Recovering strength in the gym, rhythm in friendlies and confidence in the locker room. It's another one, the one from before. Those who see him on a day-to-day basis assure that it is not that he is motivated, but ultra motivated. That everything that has been happening to him these past few months is being used as gasoline to fill his particular hunger tank. That he has an abysmal desire to vindicate himself. His attitude is indomitable and in the club they are excited by decree. Because they see Benzema sharpening his fangs for the return of the competition. And that's big words.

A shadow that followed him some time later and generated a huge debate, making him invisible in the weeks leading up to the World Cup (in the last six games he only played 26', inconsequential and undemanding, against Celtic).