Deschamps: "It's never too late for Benzema to come back"
The France coach has left the door open for the Real Madrid striker to return to the national fold and says he will have no problems reintegrating.
France coach Didier Deschamps has spoken afresh about the situation surrounding Karim Benzema and Les Bleus, with the Real Madrid striker having been frozen out of the international picture for a year and a half over his alleged involvement in the so-called Valbuena case.
Speaking on Wednesday, Deschamps again opened the door for Benzema to return to the national fold but refused to confirm if he will recall the forward for the upcoming international fixtures in March.
"He is still one of the best strikers France have got"
“If I think it is the right thing for the team to call up Karim then I’ll do it. I only make decisions on sporting considerations and I do so in the interest of France. The institution is above everything else. Whatever will be, will be but I have no ill-feeling towards him. Other players can say inappropriate things. It’s not a question of saying ‘I like this’ or ‘I don’t like that.’ He is still one of the best strikers France have got,” Deschamps said in an interview with Le Parisien.
"I'm not putting a timeframe on things"
Asked whether Benzema would find it hard to fit back into the squad after such a long time on the outside looking in, Deschamps said he didn’t think it would be a problem. “Nothing is impossible. Lassana Diarra wasn’t in the squad for five years and then came back. Nobody knows what tomorrow holds. I’m not putting any timeframe on things.”
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