The chat between Benzema and Vinicius that changed everything

Karim Benzema and Vinicius Junior, the star duo in Europe, lead Real Madrid on their way to success in the Champions League. After their 3-1 victory in the first leg against Chelsea, Los Blancos are in the driving seat, but the job is not over yet and they have to finish the London team’s elimination at the Santiago Bernabeu.

French and Brazilian are a de facto duo. It takes very little for them to understand what one wants from the other and vice versa. look and nod. In the past, there seemed to be no hope for the duo to fit in together, but one talk changed everything.

Professor (Benzema) admitted his mistake and the talented pupil (Vinicius) learned from what happened, which has since shown the extent of their continuous improvement in their game and which has led them to be the absolute focus of the attacking play of Carlo Ancelotti’s team.

Benzema and Vinicius are an essential part of the current Real Madrid squad. Real Madrid has scored 93 goals so far this season in the five competitions it has participated in since the start of the season, of which 54 goals were scored by the two players: 37 goals for Benzema and 17 by Vinicius. With a decisive pass on Saturday, Vinicius reached goal number 17. The numbers are scary but they all stem, curiously, at a critical moment.

In the current Champions League, Benzema, with 11 goals, is trailing top scorer Robert Lewandowski with a goal difference. Vinicius, with five assists, is behind Bruno Fernandes who has more than any other player. Four of those passes ended with a goal by Karim, the player with the most shots on goal. By the way, Thibaut Courtois leads the Champions League saves standings with 39.

A conversation between Benzema and Ferland Mendy in October 2020, halftime in the Champions League match between Real Madrid and Borussia Moenchengladbach, in which the French striker questioned Vinicius’ performance, changed everything.

When it was announced it looked like the beginning of the end, with Benzema criticizing Vinicius, but the situation turned upside down.

The day after the accident, as soon as he set foot in Valdebebas, Benzema searched for Vinicius. The attacker offered a sincere apology, as time shows. The France international told him that for him he was like a son and that’s how he considered him.

The truth is that when Vinicius arrived, it was Benzema who greeted him. Marcelo and Casemiro were not in Madrid because they were part of the Brazil squad for the 2018 World Cup. From day one, he was there with Vinicius, acting as a mentor and teacher for what Real Madrid is all about.

A heart-to-heart conversation

The shock came when the words that had taken place between the French players were made public, but Vinicius accepted the apology and with the result that from that moment on the understanding between the two grew.

Vinicius still sees Benzema as a great reference on the pitch. That conversation helped break down the existing wall of respect, giving way to complete confidence in the now-decisive pair of European football.

They look out for each other, understand each other and above all need each other. The best version of each appears side by side.

Source: Marca