Karim Benzema has admitted to being an intermediary in a blackmail case involving his French international team-mate Mathieu Valbuena after initially denying that he had played any role. 

While the striker was being questioned by police in Versailles, he admitted to being a mediator for the discussions between Vlabuena and his childhood friend Karim Zenati over an alleged blackmail case regarding a sex tape.

According to Spanish sports daily AS and 20minutes, sources close to the investigation have told AFP that the striker admitted, during his third interview with the police, that he had acted as a go-between for Karim Zenati, who was the contact for the three supposed blackmailers. 

Benzema stated that he and Zenati are "very close" and that after he was released from prison, as well as while he was still incarcerated, the French striker had looked out for him. 

When the police produced the details of a phone conversation that took place on October 6th between Benzema and Zenati, he admitted that "I had a conversation with Zenati about how to approach the subject with Mathieu Valbuena". 

He added "that Zenati would benefit from it was not my objective. I didn't even think of it. Frankly, I'm surprised by how stupid I was", and added that he had not meant to do anything illegal.