Lawyer: Valbuena won't change position on Benzema blackmail case

Mathieu Valbuena's lawyer has conceded that his client is not inclined to alter his position in the blackmail case involving Karim Benzema, despite the Lyon midfielder's insistence that he would be willing to play alongside the forward during next summer's Euro 2016.

Benzema has been charged with conspiracy to blackmail for his alleged role in a scheme to extort money from his France teammate. The Real Madrid striker was allegedly approached by a childhood friend to act as a contact in an attempt to profit from a sex tape featuring the diminutive playmaker.

Related: Mathieu Valbuena open to playing alongside Karim Benzema again

Even with the situation hampering Valbuena's season with Les Gones, the former Marseille player said he would play with Benzema if chosen for next summer's tournament.

Benzema has been suspended indefinitely by the French Football Federation, and last week a judge denied his request to meet with Valbuena in person.

"Don't forget that after his hearing, we clearly stated that Mathieu, for who the French team means a lot, was intelligent enough to put his personal interests behind the interests of the French team and, if circumstances dictated it, there would be no problem for him being on a pitch with Karim Benzema again. That was said during his hearing," Valbuena's lawyer, Didier Domat, told L'Equipe, courtesy of ESPN FC.

"Today you're saying to us that he's done a U-turn because he said he could eventually be on the pitch with Karim Benzema ... but what's new in that compared to our comments after his hearing?"

Added Domat, "But I repeat that we're not excluding the fact that Mathieu might, in the interest of French football, find himself in the French team with Karim Benzema again."