Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema could face a trial over his alleged role in a sex-tape blackmail plot involving former France team-mate Matthieu Valbuena.
In 2015, Benzema, 32, was charged by French authorities having allegedly been part of an extortion plot in which he is said to have encouraged Valbuena to pay blackmailers who had threatened to reveal an intimate video of the Olympiacos star.
French outlet RMC Sport reports that the French judiciary are looking to bring a trial against Benzema for 'aiding and abetting a blackmail attempt'.
The scandal had unfolded a few months before Euro 2016, which was hosted by the French. The Los Blancos forward was consequently sidelined by France boss Didier Deschamps and has not been selected since.
Valbuena has since spoken out about the alleged conversation that took place between himself and his former team-mate regarding the tape.
'He wasn't aggressive, and he didn't speak to me firmly, directly about money, but when you insist that I meet someone … hmmm,' he told Le Monde via The Guardian.
'Personally, I've never known of anyone willing to destroy a video for free just because they love me! You can't take people for idiots.
'Afterwards, he said several times that I was dealing with "big bandits" and he added: "After all, the video is hot. If it was me, with my family and all … you'd have to be strong."
'He would say: "I can introduce you to my friend …" It kept coming back to that. Then when he was about to leave Karim said: "What shall I do? Shall I give him your number? Should I give you his number?"
'He was inciting me. He was saying, indirectly: "You will have to pay."
Sylvain Cormier, Benzema's lawyer, maintained in 2015 that his client played no role in the alleged extortion case.
'He played no part, I repeat no part, in any blackmail or attempted blackmail,' he told reporters at the time.