Mbappe meets Benzema for first time after Real Madrid rejection

Robin Bairner

• 30 May 2022 16:47 CDT
• 3 min read

Karim Benzema and Kylian Mbappe have met up for the first time since the latter elected to reject Real Madrid to sign a new contract with PSG.

There had been an expectation that Mbappe would make his way to Los Blancos this summer to team up with Benzema. His contract with PSG was due to expire on 30 June and he was widely expected to be heading for free agency.

However, the World Cup winner performed a stunning late U-turn that stunned the footballing world.

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It was a decision that provoke significant reaction. La Liga president Javier Tebas branded it an “insult” to football while there was also strong criticism from Real Madrid. Even Isco could not resist a dig at Mbappe as he announced his departure from the club on Monday, stating: “Real Madrid cannot and should not be told no, although there are always exceptions.”

Benzema, however, was the player with whom Mbappe’s relationship was most expected to be strained due to their status at the forefront of the France attack. Indeed, the former Lyon striker had posted a couple of cryptic Instagram posts, with one including the rapper Tu-Pac and the friend who betrayed him. Although Benzema denied that it had anything to do with the PSG striker, it seemed to carry an implication.

Nevertheless, when the pair met up on France duty, there was little sign of animosity. Mbappe came up to Benzema and gave him a hearty high five before a warm embrace and a few words to each other.

It was a positive sign for the pair given the difficult circumstances over the last fortnight, though Real Madrid’s success in the Champions League has doubtless eased some of the Bernabeu striker’s displeasure.

Of course, there will be some who argue that the show was for the cameras only, and it will only be during the upcoming quartet of internationals against Denmark, Croatia (twice) and Austria in the Nations League that the true extent of the damage between Benzema and Mbappe is known.