Real Madrid star striker Karim Benzema, who attempted to blackmail his former France teammate Mathieu Valbuena with a sex rape, has been found guilty and given a one-year suspended prison sentence and a fine of 75,000 euros. The scandal had stunned the football community in France and resulted in both the players losing their national team places.
The case dates back to 2015 when both of them were at a French training camp where Benzema put pressure on Valbuena to pay off the blackmailers with whom he had conspired to act as an intermediary. Benzema has always denied the allegations, saying that he was only trying to help Valbuena get rid of the compromising video.
Meanwhile, a year after the incident, Benzema was first spotted with his now-wife Cora Gautheir.
Who is Cora Gautheir?
Born in 1989, Cora Gautheir is French actor and model. She is also an Instagram influencer and a fashion model who endorses several high-end brands such as Dior and Zara. Her net worth is estimated to be around $4 million.
She reportedly met the footballer for the first time in Dubai in 2015. They soon started dating and she moved to Madrid to live with him. The two reportedly got married in December 2016 and in May this following year, she gave birth to their son. Benzema has a daughter from a previous relationship.
The two have been very private about their relationship and have never spoken to the media about the same.
“It’s our private thing. I’ve always been like this. I don’t like to be in the spotlight, in the TV, it’s stupid for me. I have my life, with my family and friends. And it’s also better and easier for them. Just imagine it, you’re 4 years old and you live your life with the camera behind you. You can lose your mind,” the footballer had said in an interview when asked to talk about his marriage with Cora.