Nike cancel Karim Benzema campaign shoot after reviewing striker’s past

Nike have cancelled a planned promotional shoot involving Karim Benzema after reviewing the former Real Madrid striker’s past, according to The Athletic. The 38-year-old was due to travel to London for a campaign connected to Nike and streetwear brand Corteiz, but his team were informed on Wednesday night that the filming would no longer take place.

Sources told The Athletic that Nike concluded Benzema’s publicly documented history did not fit the company’s values. Nike said in a statement that it regretted allowing discussions to progress so far but stressed the project did not represent a wider relationship with the player.

Benzema had been expected to receive Nike products and travel support for the shoot, while preliminary discussions had reportedly touched on a possible ambassadorial role. The Frenchman is currently a free agent after leaving Al Hilal in August.