Valbuena still affected by sex tape blackmail

Valbuena still affected by sex tape blackmail - Gonalons

The Lyon midfielder is dealing with a "delicate" situation but is "mentally strong" amid an alleged blackmail attempt, says the club's captain

Lyon captain Maxime Gonalons has offered support to Mathieu Valbuena as a criminal investigation into allegations of a sex-tape blackmail attempt against his team-mate continues.

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema, Valbuena's France international colleague, was charged with complicity over the alleged plot this week, while both players were subsequently left out of national coach Didier Deschamps' squad for the forthcoming friendlies against Germany and England.

Nevertheless, Lyon coach Hubert Fournier refused to rule Valbuena out of Sunday's local derby against Saint-Etienne and Gonalons praised the midfielder's mental strength during what he conceded was a trying time.

"It's true that it's always very tough to have to hear such things," Gonalons said.

"It becomes difficult for us to comment. This is a matter that touches Mathieu.

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