Giroud: My feud with Benzema stopped me from joining Lyon

Olivier Giroud revealed how his long-running feud with Karim Benzema led him to turn down the chance to join Lyon in January.

Giroud and Benzema have been at loggerheads for quite some time after the latter fired shots at his former France teammate in March.

Asked on social media how he rated his fellow striker, Benzema bluntly replied: “You can’t confuse an F1 car with a go-kart and I’m being kind.

“I know I’m a Formula 1 car.”

The Real Madrid star hasn’t played for France since October 2015 amid allegations of blackmailing teammate Mathieu Valbuena. Therefore, Giroud took his spot and helped Les Bleus win the 2018 World Cup.

He remains a first-choice striker in Didier Deschamps’ books despite his limited game time at Chelsea over the last year.

🇫🇷 Olivier Giroud scored his 40th goal for France. Only Thierry Henry and Michel Platini have more goals.

1️⃣ Thierry Henry – 51

2️⃣ Michel Platini – 41

3️⃣ Olivier Giroud – 40

He needs one more for the second spot… pic.twitter.com/rvIFFiPvuS

— Mozo Football (@MozoFootball) September 8, 2020

It was for this very reason, though, Giroud considered a January exit to avoid losing his spot in the national team. He nearly joined Lyon but pulled out of signing for Benzema’s boyhood side for the fear of repercussions.

Speaking to French outlet Le Progres ahead of the launch of his autobiography ‘Toujours y croire’, Giroud said: “From a footballing standpoint, the move would’ve been fine.

“But I didn’t want to run the slightest risk of danger to my family, particularly considering how some people reacted at the time.”

Giroud remained at Chelsea instead and surprisingly signed a one-year contract extension despite increased competition for a starting spot from the likes of summer signing Timo Werner.