Benzema: 'I once played for Ronaldo, but...'

Benzema's remarks about Ronaldo have drawn attention, simultaneously highlighting the core issue causing Real Madrid to lose its identity and current balance.

Real Madrid legend Karim Benzema has recently made noteworthy observations about his former club's situation. Amidst the Bernabéu team facing the risk of a barren season, the French ex-striker not only pinpointed the problem but also evoked the successful model associated with Cristiano Ronaldo.

Real Madrid is undergoing a turbulent period after being eliminated from the Champions League and losing ground in the La Liga race against Barcelona. Pressure weighs heavily on coach Álvaro Arbeloa, while stars like Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior face doubts about their synergy. The key point revealed: Real Madrid lacks the sacrifice and structure that existed during Benzema's time playing alongside Ronaldo.

In a conversation with rapper Rohff, Benzema directly compared with Paris Saint-Germain, the team thriving under Luis Enrique. He emphasized: “At PSG, the great thing is when the main lineup plays, the collective operates smoothly. But when the coach substitutes at minute 60 or 70, the players coming on contribute even more than the starters.”

The former Real Madrid striker added: “Everyone knows what they must do and what to contribute. The starters know, the substitutes know. And the substitutes on the bench don’t get angry.” According to Benzema, this is precisely the foundation enabling PSG to maintain stability, contrasting with the current fragmented image of the Royal club.

He candidly pointed out: “At Madrid it’s more complicated because they don’t play as a collective. (…) PSG isn’t a team full of stars, except for Ousmane Dembélé. But they press, defend, attack, run non-stop.” This statement further highlights the tactical and competitive spirit issues at the Bernabéu.

However, the biggest emphasis lies in how Benzema recalled his relationship with Ronaldo. He shared: “I played for Cristiano. I learned a lot from him: movement in the box, pressing, scoring 50 goals per season. Playing for him, yet I still improved tremendously.” This is seen as a direct message to the current generation.

In reality, Benzema was Ronaldo's “shadow” for many years, before exploding after the Portuguese superstar departed in 2018. He scored over 350 goals for Real and won the 2022 Ballon d'Or, but always stressed the role of sacrifice within the collective—something he believes current Real Madrid lacks.

During their peak era, Real Madrid also possessed “conductors” like Toni Kroos and Luka Modrić, helping balance the system. When that foundation vanished, the attacking stars lacking defensive support increasingly exposed limitations.

Thus, Benzema's message is not merely nostalgic, but also a warning: to return to the summit, Real Madrid needs more than excellent individuals—they need a collective that knows sacrifice, as he once did playing alongside Cristiano Ronaldo.