Lawyer says Real Madrid striker Benzema ‘upset’ and ‘down’

French radio Europe 1 violated the confidentiality of an official investigation, said Sylvain Cormier.

He told Associated Press “We believe the files have been leaked to the press to influence Valbuena’s future testimony”. Benzema remains under criminal investigation over the alleged blackmail and can not be in the same place at the same time as Valbuena. “We will not stop until we find out who is behind all this”. Cormier has said that Benzema was “totally innocent” and “played no part in any blackmail or attempted blackmail”.

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. He is said to have told Valbuena: “If you want the video to be destroyed, my friend will come to see you in Lyon”.

According to L’Equipe’s transcript of the leaked phone call, Benzema says that he felt Valbuena thought it was all a joke. He’ll call his agent, he’ll say they have the video.

He added: “During the conversation…Karim Benzema declared that he had told Mathieu Valbuena not to pay”. After not being picked by national coach Didier Deschamps for the team’s worldwide friendly against England at Wembley on 17 November, the terms of Benzema’s bail make the question of selecting him once again a morally tricky one.

Benzema also discloses to his friend how he told Valbuena “you can see everything” in the tape, after the Lyon player asked: “Can you see my tattoos in the video?”

Cormier has a different view, being adamant that Benzema was not involved, and that he tried to dissuade Valbuena from negotiating with the suspects. If subsequently granted bail, the terms state that he is not allowed contact with any of the others involved in the affair.

The Versailles prosecutor has said the alleged crime of conspiracy to blackmail and participating in a criminal group for which Benzema was being investigated could carry a prison sentence of at least five years.

Another of Benzema’s legal team, Alain Jakubowicz, told French TV station BFM on Monday that the case is getting the 27-year-old “down” but that he will continue to fight to clear his name.