Florentino is Benzema's biggest fan

Posted Wednesday, February 03, 2016 by Marca.com

He boarded a plane and departed Lyon with the signature of one of Europe's most-promising players. That will have been seven years ago in June, a period in which the striker and the president's relationship has been tested by its fair share of ups and downs, tough times and drama.

However, Florentino sees the Frenchman as much more than just a player. He is his favourite and time has proven him right. Whenever the forward is called into question he bounces back with world-class performances and goals.

Florentino has had to put up with Mourinho's constant calls to sell him, with the Portuguese even publicly labelling him 'a cat', a board of directors that asked for a change at centre-forward after winning 'la Decima' - the Frenchman was booed at the final whistle -, which even made him doubt himself briefly. In the end, time and time again, he stuck to his guns and Benzema has stayed on at the club, something which nobody questions now.

Whenever the going gets tough for the Frenchman is when the president is most at his side. Everyone thought that Benzema was on his way out of the club, but Florentino refused to buckle to pressure and gave him his full backing. "You, here, with me". The striker has responded to his president's faith with world-class football. He is happy and feels he has the president's full backing, something which shows in his performances out on the pitch.

Transfer window after transfer window, the club's backroom staff always talk about strengthening the squad at centre-forward and the answer is always the same. "We have Benzema". It was the president who didn't want the Frenchman to have to compete with Higuaín and it was also him who let Chicharito leave. He has more than he needs with Benzema.