Karim Benzema has admitted to being an intermediary in the discussions between his childhood friend, Karim Zenati, and international teammate, Mathieu Valbuena, after Zenati and three others attempted to blackmail Valbuena over a sex tape, sources close to the investigation have told AFP.

The 'Los Blancos' forward spent 24 hours in police custody at a Versailles police station this week. Despite initially denying any involvement in the case, during his third interview the former Lyon hitman came clean about his involvement in the affair. "I had to mediate and I acted as the go-between between Valbuena and Zenati. I am embarrassed for my friend Zenati, because when he was released from prison, and even when he was in jail, I took care of him. We are very close".

Amongst the evidence used by the police in the hearing was a recorded telephone conversation between Benzema and Zenati, in which, jokingly at times, the French international striker recounted the conversation held between himself and Valbuena at the French national team training camp held at Clairefontaine on 6th October. "I had a conversation with Zenati on the way to approach the subject with Mathieu Valbuena. The fact that Karim Zenati gained something out of all of this wasn't my intention. I am shocked. Zenati is a very decent person and is someone I trust", declared Benzema whilst expressing no compassion towards Valbuena.