Real Madrid Confused By Karim Benzema’s Lack Of Commitment In Matches And Training
Since winning the Ballon d’Or last season, Karim Benzema has seen a steep drop in form. The same striker who seemingly could not put a wrong step in front of the goal no longer looks as threatening.
According to reports from Sergio Santos (h/t Madrid Xtra), his drop in level in games is far from the problem at hand. Benzema no longer shows interest even in training, and both Carlo Ancelotti and the administration are baffled by his lack of commitment. There is a feeling that the striker’s mind is distracted elsewhere.
The reasons behind his wandering mind could be anything under the sun, but one possible rationale could be his shocking treatment in the French National Team setup recently.
After being called up for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Benzema was shipped back by Didier Deschamps for a very minor injury. Even after recovering completely from his setback well ahead of time, he was not shown a route back into the side.
The sudden developments and ostracization are said to have hit the striker hard, forcing him to even retire from international football with immediate effect.
The feeling of desolation would have only got worse with his snubbing at the recent FIFA The Best awards and is evident through the social media post he made about it.
If indeed Benzema’s drop in form is related to a psychological block, it is imperative that the club take the situation seriously and work with the player. Concurrently, however, it is important for Los Blancos to scout and sign an able replacement.
In 14 La Liga appearances for Real Madrid so far this season, Benzema has scored 11 goals and provided three assists. At the same time, he has missed a whopping 15 big chances and is well below his xG of 13 goals so far.
