'Mbappe, Vinicius and Jude need to communicate'

There are five Champions League trophies next to his name. In winning the first four he had a secondary role, and in the last one a leading role. We all remember how Karim Benzema led Real Madrid past Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, Manchester City, and Liverpool to the status of the best team in Europe. Since the Frenchman left for Saudi Arabia, the Royal Club has once again become the best on the Old Continent — but his compatriot Kylian Mbappe has not yet done so. That’s why the floodlights of the Santiago Bernabeu are focused on the former PSG player, whom Benzema himself is urging to become the main protagonist in the planned assault on the crown.

And not only him — from Benzema’s words in his interview with AS, it can also be concluded that he is asking Real’s current first-team players to communicate more with each other.

"He's much better. Scoring goals isn't new to him. He was already doing it at PSG, and he's going to score goals at Real Madrid, many more. There will be matches where Mbappe won't touch the ball. What we expect from Kylian is that when he gets one, he scores. Real Madrid is like that. Real Madrid really needs him, and there are matches where he has to score, like against Atlético Madrid, Liverpool… These are teams that sit back, and he has to make himself available, work on those situations" said Benzema.

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On the same wavelength, the experienced ace continues to “feed” the rest of the Real squad with the ambition to win the prestigious competition.

"He needs to combine with Vinicius. Real Madrid expects Mbappe to be there for these moments, to win the Champions League. I think he can do it with the other players. He can't do it alone. He needs Vinicius, other players… That's just how it is. I think Vinicius, Mbappe, Rodrygo, even if he doesn't play much, Bellingham… they need to communicate. One is there to score goals, the other to provide assists. We're not going to tell Bellingham to score goals because that's Mbappe's role, nor are we going to tell him to be the number 10 because that's Bellingham's role. They need to communicate. He's getting better, he needs to focus more on this moment when Real Madrid needs him, because he has everything he needs to do it" said the Frenchman.

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And time is relentlessly passing. He has already been in Arab football for two and a half years. Last season, with Al-Ittihad from Jeddah, he won the domestic double in Saudi Arabia.

"In December, I'll be 38. I see myself playing football for another two years. Physically, I'm in good shape. I work hard and I play football. I love football. We'll see what happens, what the club thinks. We'll talk face-to-face and see what they think. The best thing for me is to stay here, but not just for another year or two. I think the level of the league is improving more and more. I've been here for three years and it continues to progress. It's true that I have offers in Europe. I have to consider everything, choose carefully, and see where I feel comfortable, without forgetting that I'm at ease here and that everyone loves me. We'll see. In any case, I'm not going to retire from football in six months" said Benzema.

2026 FIFA WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS - EUROPE

Tuesday

22.45: (1.38) Austria (4.70) B&H (8.50)

22.45: (10.5) Belarus (5.70) Greece (1.28)

22.45: (1.01) Belgium (20.0) Liechtenstein (70.0)

22.45: (5.60) Bulgaria (4.00) Georgia (1.60)

22.45: (6.00) Kosovo (3.90) Switzerland (1.58)

22.45: (1.01) Romania (20.0) San Marino (70.0)

22.45: (3.60) Scotland (3.25) Denmark (2.15)

22.45: (1.28) Spain (6.75) Turkey (10.5)

22.45: (1.58) Sweden (3.90) Slovenia (6.00)

22.45: (1.75) Wales (3.70) Macedonia (5.50)

***odds are subject to change***