Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema will face trial for his alleged involvement in an attempted blackmail case linked to a sex tape featuring a former France team-mate Mathieu Valbuena.

The 33 year old Frenchman has not played for his country since it came to light.

French prosecutors announced Benzema would face trial on Thursday, reported the AFP News Agency.

AFP also quoted Benzema's lawyer, Sylvain Cormier, as saying he was not surprised the matter was going to trial, but that the decision was "as absurd as it was predictable".