Associates of Real Madrid
striker Karim Benzema are suspected of involvement in an attempted kidnapping
with the aim of recuperating money owed to the star player, French news site Media
part reported on Thursday. A dispute, centered on just 50,000 euros in cash, is
believed to be the cause of the failed attempt, according to the report.
Lawyers for former French international Benzema, however, described the claims
as "grotesque". Leo D., who described himself as an agent of the Real Madrid player, filed a lawsuit on
Monday, October 8, claiming he had been the victim of an attempted kidnapping.
The 33-year-old accused close friends of Benzema of trying to grab him in Paris
on Sunday, October 7, after the French Ligue 1 game between PSG and Lyon,
hoping to persuade him to transfer the cash.
Smaine T., a childhood
friend of Benzema, and the Real Madrid player's driver, allegedly ordered Leo
D. to get into a black van where he said he believed he saw "the
silhouette of Karim Benzema" in the back of the vehicle.
Media part said the
dispute is over 50,000 euros which was agreed to be paid to Benzema by a
sponsor for a trip to Morocco in the summer.
Benzema's entourage
believe Leo D. pocketed the money himself.
Sylvain Cormier, the
lawyer of Benzema, insisted on Thursday that Leo D. "has never been the
agent of Karim Benzema. This is where the problem originates -- he is perhaps
disappointed".
Cormier denounced the
accusations as a means to make headlines.
"This whole thing has
been agitated by this man who tries very clumsily to hide his own problems.
"This man accuses a
relative of Karim Benzema of taking his arm, we also know that Karim Benzema
was not present at the scene -- suspicion of attempted kidnapping is perfectly
grotesque," said Cormier.
However, Joseph
Cohen-Sabban, the lawyer for Leo D., retorted that "if Karim Benzema was
to take a complaint of libel to the courts, he would be in trouble."
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