Real Madrid legend and French veteran striker Karim Benzema is still stuck on an African island!
Here's a look at why he's still there...
What's the story?
Karim Benzema is still stuck in Mauritius, which has been hit with floods with a tropical cyclone approaching.
Benzema has been trying to join his Al-Ittihad teammates for pre-season in Dubai but has been unable to leave due to the worsening conditions and the closure of the international airport.
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Let's take a closer look...
Benzema stranded in Mauritius
Karim Benzema is still stranded in Mauritius waiting to catch a flight to Dubai, where his club Al-Ittihad are waiting for him to begin pre-season training.
As reported by Spanish publication MARCA, Al-Ittihad head coach Marcelo Gallardo called him up to join the squad last week, but the Frenchman's attempts to leave the island over the weekend and on Monday were unsuccessful.
eNCA also reported that authorities in Mauritius have warned that Cyclone Belal posed a threat to the remote paradise island, with the international airport announcing its closure yesterday until further notice.
Schools, banks, government offices and other private businesses shut their doors and sent staff home as well. The Mauritius Meteorological Services mentioned in a statement that a class 3 cyclone warning (out of four levels) was in force and advised the public to stay in a safe place, with "torrential rain conditions" expected.
The eNCA report also stated that in February last year, Mauritius suffered heavy rains and high winds from Cyclone Freddy, which spread to southeastern African countries including Malawi, Mozambique and Madagascar.
It's been reported that winds of up to 120 kmh are wreaking havoc for those trying to leave the Indian Ocean island, according to the weather forecasts, as well as heavy storms and floods making it difficult for people to move around the island's capital of Port Louis.
Benzema is said to have been given a deadline of last Friday to report with the rest of the Al-Ittihad squad and travel to Dubai and will continue without the player at their training camp.
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What was Benzema doing in Mauritius?
The 36-year-old baller was enjoying a lush vacation in Mauritius with his ex-wife Chloé De Launay and the duo were snapped in some rather intimate beachside pictures together.
Mauritius is a magnet for rich tourists like Benzema, with globe trotters being attracted to its stunning white beaches and crystal-clear waters that almost look drinkable.
Benzema was known to be in a romantic relationship with model Jordan Ozuna who accompanied him to the 2022 Ballon d'Or awards in Paris, where he walked away with the big prize.
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