After Karim Benzema’s surprise visit to the Real Madrid hotel on Thursday, ahead of the start of the 2025 Spanish Super Cup, several internet users made a notable observation about an image shared online.
Despite leaving the Santiago Bernabéu in 2023, Karim Benzema remains deeply attached to his former club. A Real Madrid legend, the 37-year-old striker continues to keep up with his former teammates. On Thursday, he showed his love for his old club by making an unexpected visit before the start of the 2025 Spanish Super Cup, which kicks off with the semi-final against Mallorca. Warmly welcomed, KB9 spent quality time with the players. In one of the images shared on Madrid-based social media, Benzema can be seen surrounded by Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham, Eduardo Camavinga, Brahim Diaz, and Aurélien Tchouaméni.
Where was Kylian Mbappé during this conversation?
Following the visit, Karim Benzema revealed to Real Madrid TV the details of his interaction with his former teammates from Los Blancos: “I had a brief conversation with my teammates, and I’m very happy. I take away a lot from it, and I still have so much love for everything about Real Madrid,” he shared. On social media, many questioned the absence of Kylian Mbappé in the photo showing KB9 chatting with his former teammates.
Rumoured to be on frosty terms in recent months, Benzema and Mbappé had a warm reunion in the hotel lobby where the Madrid squad is staying. In just a few seconds, the two French players greeted each other and exchanged a few words. However, beyond this brief interaction, it was expected that they might have a longer conversation. After the initial greetings, KM9 chose to focus on other matters, leaving his French teammates and the rest of Madrid’s attacking trio to continue chatting with Benzema.
Mbappé and Benzema: Neither close friends nor enemies
Given the rumours of tension between the two French footballers, Mbappé’s absence drew reactions from some fans who speculated that the smiles during their greetings were just for the cameras. Jude Bellingham, who never played with Benzema at Real Madrid, joined the conversation between the former Madrid players. Therefore, it cannot be attributed to Mbappé’s recent arrival in Carlo Ancelotti’s squad.
As compatriots and international teammates who have played together, one might expect the two men to spend more time together if everything was fine. Despite Benzema’s kind words about Mbappé’s arrival at Real Madrid, it seems the two are not particularly close, although this doesn’t necessarily mean they are at odds, as some French media outlets have suggested in the past. After his visit, KB9 shared photos, notably without Mbappé, which continue to raise questions, accompanied by the caption: “Hala Madrid.”
Under these posts, Al Ittihad’s forward and Vinicius Junior exchanged mutual acknowledgements. Everyone is left to draw their own conclusions about the real nature of the relationship between KB9 and KM9.
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