Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has hit back at France coach Didier Deschamps over claims about his departure from their World Cup squad.
The France national team coach discussed in detail about what happened after they received the final diagnosis of the injury that he suffered during the tournament.
"There is only one truth and Karim knows it well," Deschamps told Le Parisien.
"Karim joined on November 14 after a period of semi-inactivity at his club.
"He followed an individualized training program and his return to collective training was postponed. It was not 100 percent clear to me that he could start the first game against Australia.
"When Karim got injured, our doctor took him to the Aspetar clinic for an MRI. Karim forwarded the results to his doctor in Madrid who also gave his opinion. When he returned to the hotel, it was after midnight. I met Karim in his room with our doctor who had come to give me the MRI report.
"Karim is upset because this World Cup meant a lot to him. He told me he was dead. In the best case scenario, his return to training could not come before December 10.
"In his statement on his social network, he expresses his disappointment at having to leave, but justifies this choice by his concern to think about the team.
"We were together for about twenty minutes. When I left, I tell him: 'Karim, there's no rush. You organise your return with the team manager'.
"When I wake up, I realise he's gone. It's his decision, he won't tell you otherwise, I understand and respect him."
Deschamps went on to point out that no France player was happy that Benzema returned to the Spanish capital despite reports stating otherwise.
"No player was pleased with his departure as you could hear or read," he added.
"Karim knows that too. I don't know who spread those rumours. It's not even controversy anymore, it's malice. If smiles appeared, it wasn't because Karim had left us, it was because the team was winning."
Deschamps also recalled the last time spoke to Benzema and he revealed the conversation the two men had.
"I called him after I renewed my contract," Deschamps noted.
"We had a long chat. I called him again more recently to know his predisposition for the next call-ups and he confirmed his decision to end his international career. Don't ask me about his arguments. It will be up to him to communicate them or not."
Benzema took to social media to post some of Deschamps' quotes from his recent interview and he hit out at the national team boss.
Benzema posted a clown emoji and wrote: "The audacity". Then he wrote: "That Didier. Goodnight" to caption a video of a man saying "You lie. You're a liar."
