Karim Benzema was caught on camera apparently telling Real Madrid team-mate Ferland Mendy not to pass to Vinicius Junior - but the French striker isn’t bothered by the resulting furore over his words.
The interaction was shown when the players were waiting to come out for the second half in Madrid’s Champions League encounter against Borussia Monchengladbach on Tuesday night, which ended in a 2-2 draw.
It suggested he told his teammate that the Brazilian youngster was “playing against” his own team with his propensity for losing possession and there was a typical outcry on social media about rifts in the dressing room and a lack of respect for each other at the club.
But judging by Benzema’s own post on social media on Thursday, the striker cares little for the views of the outside world.
The Real Madrid No. 9 reacted with a cryptic, if disdainful, response to complaints at his manner with an Instagram post.
“In the meantime, the dogs bark, nine goes by," Benzema posted.
Benzema refers to himself and his squad number, with the "barking" seemingly the background noise from those having an opinion about his words from outside the club.
After Real were two goals down with five minutes to play in Germany, Benzema scored the first before his team equalised in stoppage time.
Real have taken one point from their first two group games and face back-to-back Champions League fixtures against Inter Milan next.
Domestically they sit in second place, one point behind Real Sociedad, with Benzema scoring once in six LaLiga games.
