Karim Benzema's request to meet with Mathieu Valbuena to discuss the blackmail case involving the two French players has been denied by the investigating judge.
The Real Madrid striker - who is facing preliminary charges of conspiracy to blackmail Valbuena in relation to an extortion case that involves a sex tape featuring the Lyon midfielder - submitted a request to Judge Nathalie Boutard for a face-to-face meeting with his France teammate.
Boutard denied the request, saying Benzema has no right to meet with Valbuena, according to a statement from the Versailles prosecutor’s office translated by The Associated Press.
Representatives of Benzema - whose place on the national team is in jeopardy, as he was suspended in the days after the case was made public - claim the request to meet with Valbuena was made in an effort to clear the air and ease the tensions between the two players.