Real Madrid manager Rafael Benitez has left Karim Benzema out of his squad that travels to play Sevilla on Sunday.
Benzema was charged this week with being involved in an alleged blackmail plot, which centred on a sex tape involving Benzema's international teammate Mathieu Valbuena.
The two players have since been dropped from the national squad by France boss Didier Deschamps, and Benitez has confirmed that the striker will not be making the trip with the Madrid squad to face Sevilla.
"Benzema is in the final part of his recovery. We decided to let him get him back to 100%, work with the team and be in condition for what comes later," Benitez told reporters of the striker, who has missed Madrid's last five outings with a hamstring injury.
"He is okay. There has been a statement from the club to which we all adhere, and there is little more to say on a personal level. I will not talk much about Karim. He trained, did his job and since there is a personal matter. My full support is for him and we wait for him to recover and give us many joys on the field.
"We cannot speculate and what we know today is that it lacks a bit of time to come. We have two weeks off, we prefer not to risk and not convene it. All we deal with Karim is what we know. All his team-mates and the club are with him, to support him and just wait for the events, which will be the sensible thing to develop."
Real Madrid issued a statement this week which said that club president Florentino Perez has given his full backing to the French striker.
Colm Hayes
