Karim Benzema says people who criticise Lionel Messi ‘know nothing about football’, despite his disappointing start to life at Paris Saint-Germain.
The Argentine forward left Barcelona for PSG in the summer, bringing an end to his glittering spell at Camp Nou.
But Messi is yet to live up to his high standards in Paris and has faced huge criticism over his displays for Mauricio Pochettino’s side.
- VAR check shows Edinson Cavani was onside for Man Utd’s winning goal vs West Ham
- Rudiger gives update on Chelsea contract talks amid Man Utd transfer links
- Ousmane Demeble hits out at Barcelona ‘blackmail’ as La Liga club attempt to sell him
The 34-year-old has netted only one goal in 11 Ligue 1 matches this campaign, although he has scored five goals in five Champions League appearances.
But Real Madrid striker Benzema believes Messi is only going through a ‘period of adaptation’ at PSG.
‘How won’t he succeed? It is just a period of adaptation, because he is not scoring a lot of goals,’ Benzema told TF1. ‘But watch what he does on the pitch.
‘In any case you cannot criticise a player like that, he who criticises Messi, knows nothing about football in fact!’
Jamie Carragher recently revealed that he received a message from Messi, who was not impressed with the Liverpool legend’s comments on his move to PSG.
‘He [Messi] is not happy with me at all’, Carragher told Sky Sports.
‘I had a little pop at [Cristiano] Ronaldo early in the season, I didn’t think it was a great signing for United. ‘And I said the example of Messi, I didn’t think Messi was a great signing for PSG.
‘It was on Monday Night Football and I got a private message on Instagram. From the man himself, I will not be showing private messages but he basically called me a donkey!’
