Benzema: Real Madrid lacks a leader. Florentino gave me everything and I can never refuse him.

In an exclusive interview with "AS", Jeddah United forward Benzema talked about his old club Real Madrid and whether he will become a coach in the future.

Regarding the current Real Madrid, can they do better?

- I like this Real Madrid team. There's a lot of talk about them now, but that's always been the case. If they draw or lose, there will be a crisis. They go from being said to be the best team in the world to people questioning the coach, questioning this player or that player... and that's normal because they are the best team in the world. I like this team.

You and Alonso were once teammates. What do you think of him as a coach?

- I remember when we played together and now he's the coach. Pressing style, vertical passing... I like this style. He's only been coaching for six months and he's doing really well. Time will tell.

Will we see Benzema as coach?

- I don't know. I have friends who are already coaching and they talk to me about it all the time, but it’s hard to say. Being a player is different than being a coach, but the pressure is the same. It's complicated.

What we see now is a Real Madrid without Kroos, Modric, Casemiro, Ramos, and Benzema, and the Real Madrid you played for before was once brilliant

-Yes, it was brilliant, with many excellent players. Football is different now than it was before, it's a completely different thing. One should not compare the past with the present. Today's Real Madrid may have more advantages, but they lack a leader, although sometimes, in this industry, leaders are not necessary. They are very young, many players have played for the national team and are leaders in the national team. They have also won the Champions League... They need to find a leader and know what a leader can bring to the team.

Although he does not play in the game, Florentino is the leader of the team.

- He is the leader. He's done a great job and brought in a lot of players you wouldn't expect. Considering what he has done for the team, for the club... he is the best.

Will you go back? Can you imagine them calling you?

——Why? (Laughs) I could never say no to him. Florentino is special.

What was it like the day he came to your house in 2009?

- I remember the day he came to my house, I was in Lyon. In good times and bad, at the Golden Globes...he's always been great to me. You can't refuse him.

Tell me about that day in Lyon

- Florentino had already arrived at my house, and my agent called me and said he had something to meet with someone. I said no, I'm not free right now, I have other things to do. He repeatedly told me that I must come. When he told me clearly that it was Florentino, I couldn't believe it. He was the one who brought Ronaldo here, and now he shows up at my house? I said: "Of course, of course, I have to go." From that moment on, all I could think about was Real Madrid, Ronaldo, Zidane...

What was Florentino doing when you got home?

- He is near my house, visiting my parents. I was shocked, but he was calm and chatted with them in French.

Was it the day Benzema joined Real Madrid?

——He talked to me a lot in French. He told me about Real Madrid, I said "yes", I shook his hand, and then...

And then for the rest of my life. Good thing your phone was on, right?

——Yeah, yeah (laughing). Yes, for life. Florentino is the greatest. Real Madrid's current level is due to him in every aspect.

Because of him and the players he brought to Real Madrid, right?

——He gave me everything. He gave me a lot of confidence. He always communicates with me and my parents. He has always been there for me in good times and bad.

There will always be difficult moments in your career

- It is true that everyone will encounter difficult days in their career, and sometimes no one will help you in those complicated situations, but he was always there to support me.

Benzema: Zidane is fully qualified to be the French coach. The Saudi league needs players like me and Cristiano Ronaldo

Benzema: Vinicius has the ability to win the Ballon d'Or and I may return to Real Madrid