Real Madrid stars Karim Benzema and Vinicius Junior held clear-the-air talks in their first training session together since the French striker was caught slamming his teammate in the tunnel.
In footage broadcast by Telefoot from half-time of Tuesday’s 2-2 draw against Borussia Monchengladbach in the Champions League, Benzema was seen criticising his young teammate’s performance to countryman Ferland Mendy.
‘Brother don’t play to him,’ Benzema said in French as Vinicius stood just a few feet away unaware of what was being said about him. ‘On my mother’s life. He is playing against us.’
The Real Madrid squad were given Wednesday off after the match in Germany but returned to training on Thursday, prompting a rather awkward reunion for Benzema and Vinicius.
But, according to Marca, the 32-year-old immediately approached the young Brazilian during the session and the two players cleared the air, putting the incident behind them.
They joined the same rondo session and took the opportunity to speak about what Telefoot’s cameras had picked up, with both players deciding to draw a line under it.
When the footage first appeared of Benzema laying into Vinicius, the young attacker’s camp had brushed it away suggesting those kind of frank discussions among players were commonplace in football dressing rooms.
Benzema, though, is thought to be very unhappy with the way he has been portrayed, writing a cryptic message on Instagram saying: ‘While the dogs bark, the nine passes.’
He also retweeted and liked a comment on Twitter from a fan which read: ‘By the way Telefoot, instead of making dishonest controversy on Benzema you better pay the money you owe to dying French football!’
Real Madrid now consider the situation settled and are hoping their re-united team can pick up three points against Huesca in La Liga on Sunday ahead of back-to-back Champions League games against Inter Milan.
