Real Madrid have issued a statement supporting their striker Karim Benzema after he was placed under formal judicial investigation in connection with an alleged attempt to blackmail a fellow footballer over a sex tape.

Benzema arrived back in the Spanish capital on Thursday evening following his appearance before a judge in France.

Investigators in France will now determine whether Benzema played a role in the alleged extortion attempt against Mathieu Valbuena, the France and Lyon midfielder. Valbuena was also left out of the national squad with the coach, Didier Deschamps, saying he was not in the right emotional state to play.

Real Madrid said: “Karim Benzema returned to training this evening at Real Madrid City after making a statement to the French authorities in Versailles. The Real Madrid president, Florentino Pérez, 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.”