REAL MADRID appear to be in turmoil after footage emerged of Karim Benzema accusing team-mate Vinicius Jr of ‘playing against’ the team, according to reports.
The incident happened during half-time of Los Blancos’ 2-2 draw with Borussia Monchengladbach on Wednesday night.
Karim Benzema reportedly accused Vinicius Jr of not being a team playerCredit: TELEDOT DIRECT
Real Madrid headed into the dressing room 1-0 behindCredit: TELEDOT DIRECT
Real Madrid headed into the dressing room 1-0 behind in the Champions League group stage contest thanks to Marcus Thuram’s 33rd minute opener.
French TV station Telefoot released footage inside the tunnel of Benzema speaking with left-back Ferland Mendy.
The striker says to him: “Don’t play with him. On my mother’s life, he [Vinicius] is playing against us.”
Although he doesn’t reference the Brazilian winger in particular, Spanish publication Marca report how Vinicius Jr was the topic of conversation.
It was further reported how Mendy passed him the ball just three times in the second half.
Vinicius Jr is pictured standing just feet away from Benzema in the tunnel alongside Thibaut Courtois and Federico Valverde.
It went from bad to worse for Real when Thuram scored his second of the night on 58 minutes.
But late drama relieved the pressure on Zinedine Zidane when Benzema’s late goal and Casemiro’s last-gasp strike snatched a point.
Tempers were high with Vinicius Jr standing within earshotCredit: TELEDOT DIRECT
But the row is just the latest of problems mounting behind the scenes at the Bernabeu.
After the 3-1 El Clasico win over Barcelona, unused sub Isco was seen hitting out at Zidane.
He said team-mates Marcelo and Luka Modric: “If he has to bring me off, he substitutes me in minute 50 or 60 of the game, sometimes at half-time.
“If he has to put me on, he puts me on in the 80th minute.”
And captain Sergio Ramos was also critical of Isco and Marcelo following back-to-back defeats to Shakhtar and Cadiz.
Diario Sport claims Ramos blasted the pair for their underwhelming performances so far this term.
Zidane is under increasing pressure at Los Blancos and reports claim the club are ready to make their move for Mauricio Pochettino.
Real Madrid are a point off the top of the table in LaLiga. They recently lost to minnows Cadiz but bounced back with victory over Barcelona in El Clasico.
Meanwhile they lost their opening Champions League game at home to Shaktar Donetsk and after last night’s draw, face an uphill struggle to qualify for the knockout phase.
Isco was recently pictured criticising manager Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Zidane vows to fight for Real Madrid until the last day
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
