Karim Benzema has welcomed the news that a trial date has been set for his alleged blackmailing of former France teammate Mathieu Valbuena.

In 2015, the Real Madrid frontman was accused of having pressured Valbuena into paying off blackmailers who were threatening to leak footage of a sex tape involving the former Marseille midfielder.

Valbuena refused to comply with the demands and instead alerted the authorities. Benzema has insisted his innocence throughout the saga and instead claims he was only trying to help his former international colleague.

Benzema was relieved of his duties with the French national team following the allegations and has yet to earn a recall despite his stellar form at club level with Real Madrid .

Following the news the Frenchman will now appear in court on 22 October later this year, Benzema reacted to the court date emphatically on Instagram, writing: „Yes, finally, let’s go. Let the masquerade end forever.“

With the court date still over six months away, it appears highly unlikely that Benzema will play any part in France’s bid to become European champions at this summer’s delayed Euro 2020 tournament.

France boss Didier Deschamps has insisted he would never forget the saga when previously asked about whether he would consider Benzema in any future selection processes, claiming both he and his family have received inappropriate letters for excluding Benzema from previous squads.

The France boss was recently asked again about the Real Madrid frontman – following Les Bleus 2-0 World Cup qualifier win over Kazakhstan – though he refused to be drawn on the subject and laughed off the question before continuing with the press conference.

Whether the outcome of October’s trial will have any impact on Benzema’s future involvement with the French national team remains to be seen.