Qatar 2022 fallout: Spurs keeper Lloris slams claims he didn’t want Benzema in France squad

Tottenham and France veteran Hugo Lloris rubbished reports that claimed he didn’t want Karim Benzema in the French squad.

Benzema, who is a Ballon d’Or winner, stars for Real Madrid at club level.

However, he has found it difficult to establish a rhythm with the French team, often left out of squads by coach Didier Deschamps due to off-field issues.

He was in the World Cup squad, but then had to withdraw due to a last-minute training injury.

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Lloris told l’Equipe of those accusations: “There are a lot of things that have been said, which are either false or ridiculous: the atmosphere was very good before he left, and very good after. But we would all have preferred that the Ballon d’Or winner, when we see what he has brought since his return, could be with us. He’s still a major asset!

“To say that we would have pushed for him to leave is completely false, and I do not see how we would benefit from that. He was essential for 18 months, he helped us win the Nations League, his return would only have been positive. It is really dishonest to claim that some of us were in favour of his departure. When you approach a World Cup, you want to do it with your best players.”