a couple of things…

Karim Benzema took part in Téléfoot’s les Bleus quiz show earlier this year. One segment of the quiz had the players shown a baby picture of a footballer, and Karim excelled at this. He got himself (that’s me!) and looked really proud to have been featured (Jérémy Ménez, on the other hand, thought Karim’s baby picture was hilarious and asked them to wait so he could take a photo of it), and later on, also got Mesut and Iker! With Mesut, he slapped the buzzer too late, but luckily Christophe Jallet got the answer wrong, so Karim was able to answer it.

Karim also got Zidane, shouting out “Zizou”!

Watch Karim in the first round here, and in the final round here.  He didn’t end up winning, but put in a good effort! Anyway, I hope his Spanish can improve so he can be this extroverted with his Madrid teammates.  And Madrid should have a quiz show too!

In other news, Xabi treated several of his teammates to lunch at one of his favorite restaurants in Madrid, Julián de Tolosa, for a (belated) birthday celebration, according to the restaurant.  The players began arriving at 14h, and didn’t leave until after 18h.  On hand were Xabi, of course, plus Álvaro Arbeloa, Raúl Albiol, José Callejón, Antonio Adán, Luka Modrić, Michael Essien, Rafa Varane, Ricardo Carvalho, MFC ABMM, Nacho and Jesús, as well as members of the technical and medical staffs such as Chendo.  I wonder if this group has a nickname?  Others were invited as well but had prior commitments.  According to Marca, they had steak with red peppers, and Luka and Michael had an especially great time with the food and with visiting the old part of Madrid.

And Nacho and MFC Álvaro Borja Morata Martín represented the first team during the presentation of a social and sports school in Torrejón de Ardoz sponsored by the Realmadrid Foundation, HSBC and the Torrejón de Ardoz City Hall.  The school currently has 85 children between the ages of five and 16 enrolled.  It makes me feel so old to see Nacho and ABMM as the adults!