Real Madrid news: Karim Benzema taken into custody over Mathieu Valbuena

French teammates Mathieu Valbuena, left, and Karim Benzema before a game in 2014.

The French striker was reportedly arrested by police on Wednesday morning.

His arrest comes after a judicial investigation was opened back in July over claims that Valbuena was the subject of attempted extortion.

Benzema, 27, is one of Real Madrid’s star players alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale and has a good reputation with managers and fellow players.

France international Karim Benzema has been arrested in the ever intriguing case over the alleged blackmail of Lyon’s Mathieu Valbuena.

It is thought one of Mr Benzema’s relatives was contacted by the suspected blackmailers with a view to involving the footballer in their scheme, the source said.

“He wants to put an end as soon as possible to this controversy that rose from a case he did not take part in”, Cormier said in a message to the AP.

– FootballFanCast.com (@FootballFanCast)Benzema wouldn’t have been arrested had he just signed for Arsenal, just saying!

Benzema’s attorney told the media his client is cooperating with investigators. He has since been released and has also retired from the game.

According to a source quoted by AFP (h/t Eurosport) previously, “the existence of an intimate video has not been proven”.

Valbuena speaks with Benzema during a training session in Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines, outside Paris, on June 4, 2014.

Benzema missed Real’s UEFA Champions League clash against French champions Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday due to injury. The case lasted three years before they were acquitted.