Benzema: “The young people of Madrid see me as an older brother”

Karim Benzema, the center forward and the main star of Real Madrid, chatted with AS in an exclusive interview which will be published in full this Saturday, October 9 and of which we offer you a preview with some of the impressions of the French striker, which will be measured against Spain on Sunday in the Nations League final.

Benzema analyzes his role as a veteran in the Madrid dressing room (he arrived in 2009, he is in his thirteenth season at Madrid) and how he interacts with some footballers, like Vinicius, “very young, but they have a lot of quality”. On the recent setbacks of Madrid, against him Sheriff and against him Espanyol, Karim has it clear: “Madrid are always favorites and that forces them.” And facing the final on Sunday, he predicts a great show: “I'm sure it will be a great final.” Real Madrid's '9', recently nominated for the Ballon d'Or, analyzes the present and future of the white team and also that of his professional career. The one that follows is a small excerpt …

Do all these kids look at you with respect, as if Benzema were already a legend?

Young people see me as an older brother, but I like to help them in any way I can. I offer myself to give them things that can serve them, and I do it on and off the field. I do it with everyone, also with Vinicius. They are all very young, but they have a lot of quality.

Do you have the conviction that the Sheriff's thing was an accident and that Madrid is not in danger in Europe?

We have to forget about that as soon as possible. As I said this is starting. The Sheriff played well, but won with just two shots on goal. Madrid did it more than thirty times. But it is true that there is no small enemy, and Madrid are always favorites and that forces them.

Will we see a similar show in the final between France and Spain, on Sunday at San Siro?

Hopefully yes, that the party has the same level as had ours against Belgium or, also, the one had that of Spain against Italy, which was also a great game. But I'm sure it will be a great final. Spain is a very young team, but with a lot of talent and I hope we will see a beautiful and contested match that makes people happy, which is what we players want.