Qatar 2022 fallout: Real Madrid striker Benzema dumps France teammates on social media

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema is cutting ties with his former France teammates.

Benzema announced his international retirement this week.

And Benzema has stopped following many of his former teammates on social media during his last days as an international. Out of all the members of the France squad who travelled to Qatar, only Eduardo Camavinga, Marcus Thuram, Aurelien Tchouaméni, Kylian Mbappé and Raphael Varane have been spared the unfollow button by the current Ballon d’Or.

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Although the causes are unknown, Benzema did not want to leave any trace of his call-up for duty with the 2022 World Cup runners-up.

On 20 November, just two days after arriving in Qatar, Benzema was forced to leave the France squad after suffering a quadriceps injury. Days later, L’Équipe reported that some members of the team had felt liberated by his departure. The French newspaper also detailed the bad relationship between coach Didier Deschamps and the player, who was keen to stay and recover in Doha, but the coach didn’t want him to.