In the wake of a bizarre blackmailing scandal that resulted in the arrest of Real Madrid star Karim Benzema, the intended victim – Lyon midfielder Mathieu Valbuena – has apparently decided to live and let live.
According to the Telegraph, the lawyer for Valbuena revealed that there is no existing animosity between his client and the Real Madrid ace.
“There was no animosity before and there still is none,” Didier Domat, Valbuena’s lawyer, said.
“One cannot remain indifferent to what one sees in the press. Certainly if we discover that all this is true, he (Valbuena) will not be his friend.”
Benzema was charged with complicity to blackmail and conspiring to commit a criminal act, charges that carry a prison sentence of at least five years if convicted, in relation to a sex tape featuring Valbuena.
Under the current charges, Benzema is banned from meeting with Valbuena in person. Benzema’s agent Sylvain Cormier has denied that his client was in any way involved in blackmailing Valbuena and complained about police misconduct by letting evidence in the case leak to the press.
The case first began in June when Valbuena reported to the police that an unknown caller informed him that he had the sex tape in his possession.
The two Euro stars both play for France.
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