Mathieu Valbuena prepared to play with France team-mate Karim Benzema despite blackmail case

Benzema was charged with complicity to blackmail and conspiring to commit a criminal act involving a sex tape which reportedly features Valbuena

Mathieu Valbuena and Karim Benzema (Getty Images)

Mathieu Valbuena has suggested he would be willing to play alongside France team-mate Karim Benzema despite the ongoing blackmail case involving the pair.

Real Madrid striker Benzema has been sidelined by the French Football Federation (FFF) after being charged with complicity to blackmail and conspiring to commit a criminal act involving a sex tape which reportedly features Valbuena.

The duo are set to represent their country at the European Championship this summer despite Benzema being banned from meeting his 31-year-old team-mate. The charges in question carry the possibility of a five-year prison sentence.

“We will see how it goes, but yes, no problem, anything is possible. It wasn't like it was a murder,' Lyon midfielder Valbuena told French television station TF1.

Real Madrid’s French striker Karim Benzema, second right, leaves the court house in Versailles (AFP/Getty)

“The Euros have been our objective for the last two years. We are preparing for them and I don't imagine myself for a second not being involved.

“There is no guarantee. I have had a chat with the coach but I am not going to discuss what was said. We talked about a lot of things that made me feel better.”

Manager Didier Deschamps was forced to admit recently the issue will ‘come up again’ in the months leading up to this summer’s tournament, hosted in France, but he may be saved the strife by Valbuena’s poor domestic form.

The former Marseille and Dynamo Moscow man is currently returning from a thigh injury and last represented his country during the 2-1 friendly victory against Denmark back in October.

After being left out of Deschamps’ squad for the recent matches against Germany and England, Valbuena concedes he now understands his coach’s decision to leave him out.

He added: “It was hard to accept. At the time I was angry because I was the victim and was penalised twice.

“Looking back, I now understand his decision. 2015 is behind me now. It's time to move on.”