Karim Benzema has never been afraid to say what he really thinks about Real Madrid – and in a new in-depth interview with AS, the club legend offered a revealing look at how he views the current squad, leadership inside the dressing room, and the role Kylian Mbappé must play this season.
Benzema: “They lack a leader”
Asked to compare his Madrid with the current one, Benzema quickly rejected any direct comparison between eras and instead focused on how football has changed.
“Football now is different, it’s something else. There’s no need to compare our Real Madrid team with the current one,” he said, before offering a clear assessment of the dressing room dynamic today.
According to the Frenchman, the modern squad is full of quality and success but is still searching for that one dominant voice on the pitch. In his words, the current Real Madrid “may have more things, but they lack a leader.”
Benzema underlined that this doesn’t mean the group is weak. Many of the players are already stars for their national teams, and they have Champions League titles and big-game experience. What he believes they still need to understand is what a true leader brings to a side over 90 minutes and over the course of a season.
“They are young, many of them play for their national teams and are leaders there, they have Champions League titles… But they have to find out how a leader contributes to his team,” he explained.
In today’s football, Benzema admitted that sometimes a traditional captain-type figure “is not necessary”, but coming from a player who shared a dressing room with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Sergio Ramos, Luka Modrić and Marcelo, his message carries weight. He clearly feels that one voice still has to take responsibility in the decisive moments.
What Real Madrid needs from Mbappé
The conversation inevitably moved to Kylian Mbappé, who has arrived at the Bernabéu with enormous expectations. Benzema was very direct about what Madridistas should demand from his compatriot.
“There will be matches in which Mbappé will not touch the ball,” he warned. In a Real Madrid side that often suffers long spells without clear chances, Benzema believes that is the reality of playing as the reference in attack.
But when the opportunity does come, Mbappé’s job is simple and ruthless. “What we expect from Kylian is that when he has it, he scores. Real Madrid is like that,” Benzema said.
He pointed out that scoring goals is nothing new for Mbappé – he did it at PSG, and he is already showing at Real Madrid that he can continue that streak. For Benzema, the challenge is not whether Mbappé can score, but how he fits into a forward line full of talent and personality.
Vinícius, Mbappé, Rodrygo, Bellingham: “They have to talk”
Benzema also highlighted the importance of communication between Real Madrid’s attacking stars. With Vinícius Júnior, Mbappé, Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham all capable of deciding games on their own, the former No. 9 insisted that clarity of roles will be crucial.
“I think Vinicius, Mbappé, Rodrygo, although he doesn’t play much, Bellingham… They have to talk,” he said.
Benzema believes each player must understand his primary responsibility on the pitch: one is there to score goals, another to create and assist, another to organise between the lines. In his eyes, you cannot ask everyone to do everything.
“We are not going to tell Bellingham to score goals because that’s what Mbappé is for, and Mbappé won’t be the number 10 because that is Bellingham,” he explained. The message is simple: if the stars find balance between their roles and talk to each other, Madrid’s attack can be almost unstoppable.
Even so, Benzema believes the focus will fall on Mbappé in the key moments. “He is better, but he has to focus more at this moment when Real Madrid needs him because he has everything to do it,” he added, demanding maximum concentration and responsibility from the club’s new superstar.
“Madrid is still my city” – Benzema on a possible return
The Frenchman also surprised many by leaving the door slightly open to a future return to the Bernabéu. While he did not make any promises, his words will inevitably excite fans who still chant his name.
“If Florentino is still there, it could happen, it could happen,” Benzema admitted when asked about coming back as a player.
He revealed that he remains in contact with the president and made it clear that his bond with the club and the city has never disappeared. “I still talk to him, and it could happen. I am a Madrid fan. I feel it inside. Madrid is still my city, I feel like a Madrid fan and a Madrid citizen. Let’s see what happens. If he’s there, it can happen,” he said.
It is far from a confirmation, but it is also not a complete rejection. For now, Benzema is focused on his own career, yet it’s obvious that his heart remains in Chamartín. And as long as Florentino Pérez is in charge, the idea of a last dance at the Bernabéu will continue to float in the air.
Leadership, roles and the next chapter
Benzema’s comments offer a fascinating inside perspective at a moment of transition for Real Madrid. The team is younger, faster and perhaps more explosive than the side that dominated Europe with him as the attacking reference. However, in his view, it is still missing that one clear figure who carries the weight of the badge in the most complicated nights.
Whether that responsibility falls on Mbappé, Vinícius, Bellingham or someone else, Benzema’s message is clear: talent alone is not enough at Real Madrid. The difference between a good team and a legendary one often comes down to leadership, communication and players who embrace their roles without ego.
From afar, the club’s second all-time top scorer is still acting like a leader – sending a reminder to the new generation about what it really means to wear the white shirt of Real Madrid.