Real Madrid have released a statement insisting that club president Florentino Perez 'fully supports' Karim Benzema after the striker was charged in connection to a sex-tape blackmail plot involving Mathieu Valbuena.

Benzema has been charged with complicity in an attempt to blackmail and participating in a criminal group, which carries a five-year prison sentence.

It is alleged that a group of people tried to extort money from Valbuena by threatening to release footage of the Lyon footballer having sex with his partner.

Benzema and Valbuena play together at international level, but both players have been left out of Didier Deschamps's recent France squad.

The Madrid footballer, who spent a night in a jail cell in Versailles, has returned to training for his club in Spain.

A statement from Madrid last night read: "Karim Benzema returned to training this evening at Real Madrid City after making a statement to the French authorities in Versailles.

"The Real Madrid C F president Florentino Perez held a meeting with the player in which he gave him his full support and expressed his confidence that his actions were in good faith and that he is completely innocent.

"The club values and recognises the professional commitment, the displays of camaraderie with his team-mates and the impeccable attitude he has shown as a core member of the first team squad for the more than six seasons that he has been a part of Real Madrid."

Benzema is not allowed to make contact with Valbuena while the investigation is ongoing.