Christian Vieri has become involved in the spat between Gary Lineker and Karim Benzema.
And the former Italy and Inter Milan striker is on Benzema’s side. Lineker suggested that the Real Madrid forward is a “tad overrated” and said that he’s “decent not great.”
https://twitter.com/GaryLineker/status/920378807655305218
Harry Kane scores again. Thankfully Zidane thinks Benzema is the best so they won’t be interested in poaching him.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) October 22, 2017
The Match of the Day presenter’s comments were put to Zinedine Zidane at a press conference, and the Madrid manager unsurprisingly dismissed them. Lineker’s comments also reached Benzema, and the French forward, who has only scored twice in 12 games this season, wasn’t happy.
“The criticism from ex-footballers who become journalists, some of who only share their hate, I feel sorry for them, frankly,” Benzema said in an interview.
Lineker then responded to Benzema, accusing him of being “over-sensitive”, as well as overrated.
Asking questions about football is my job and it’s certainly not ‘spreading hatred’. Is it me or is @Benzema a tad over-sensitive? 🙄 https://t.co/hIusB0LphU
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) November 1, 2017
During Tottenham Hotspur’s 3-1 victory over Real Madrid in the Champions League at Wembley, Lineker took another dig at him.
He couldn't resist. What a night for Spurs https://t.co/88AMsR5mfE
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) November 1, 2017
The former Barcelona striker couldn’t resist poking fun at Benzema’s troubles during the match. The forward started the game, but had little impact, which prompted Lineker to ask when would Zidane bring him on.
Double Alli makes it 2-0. Surely Zidane will bring on Benzema now. 😉
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) November 1, 2017
Benzema hasn’t responded to that Lineker tweet yet, but another striker has. Vieri has said that Linker “should know better” than criticise a player going through a bad spell of form.
“I don’t know why Gary Lineker works on TV,” Vieri said on BeIN Sports.
“He scored all of his goals in the six-yard box. The thing is, he’s a striker, so when a striker doesn’t score for a couple of games, you going to kill him? He should know better.”
Lineker later responded to the former Lazio striker, writing:
“He’s on TV to ask questions about football which, surprisingly, involves asking questions about footballers.”
He’s on TV to ask questions about football which, surprisingly, involves asking questions about footballers. 🙄 https://t.co/v8GUWIsvj9
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) November 7, 2017
You can watch Vieri here:
"I don't know why @GaryLineker is on TV"@vieri_bobo takes Benzema's side. Full episode #OnDemand ▶️ https://t.co/3w0EngEhbJ #TheLockerRoom pic.twitter.com/130DclCvwq
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) November 7, 2017
