Real Madrid’s French striker, Karim Benzema, is facing challenges both in the national team and at the club. The Franco-Algerian player is grappling with criticism on the international stage and facing disapproval from the Bernabeu crowd. Amidst these difficulties, he can turn to the advice of his former teammate, Juninho, for support.
Juninho expressed his concerns on RMC, stating, “I have the feeling that for Karim, football is no longer the priority in his life. This is not a technical quality problem.” According to the Brazilian, Benzema needs to put in more effort. Juninho emphasized that reaching the highest level requires more than just talent. Drawing a parallel with Cristiano Ronaldo, Juninho pointed out that Ronaldo, now considered the best player in the world, is physically robust and puts in significant effort, being the last to leave training.
Juninho’s advice to Benzema is clear: “Karim must accept that football is his job. He must put in more effort on the field, not relying solely on his technical quality. He needs to work more without the ball, manage to play the full 90 minutes at the physical level he is capable of. By doing so, he will continue to progress, and goals will naturally follow.
