Benzema claims sex tape blackmail plot 'big misunderstanding'

Claiming that his intention was always to offer help, Real Madrid's French forward Karim Benzema has testified to the French judiciary that his alleged involvement in blackmailing his national side teammate Mathieu Valbuena with a sex tape is a "big misunderstanding".

French newspaper Le Monde published on Wednesday parts from the transcript of Benzema's testimony at the Palais de Justice in Paris on November 5, in which he assured judge Nathalie Boutard that he did not even watch the tape, Efe reported.

"I think it's a big misunderstanding. From the start, I wanted to let him know about this story involving him and help him because people have already done that to me, the same type of thing," Benzema said.

"Anyone who plays for France with me is a friend. I started talking to him about this video out there of him. When I told him I was on his side and could help him, he asked me questions about these kinds of situations," the Real Madrid player said.

"I told him it was all down to him, that he should decide. I told him there was someone who could try to help, Karim Zenati," Benzema recounted, referring to his childhood friend who also faces charges of blackmail.