Ahead of his team's UEFA Champions League round of 16 clash with Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has seemingly instigated some mind games by insisting a PSG striker has huge potential to be a star at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Kylian Mbappe's current contract in the French capital is set to end once this season has concluded, and Los Blancos have made it no secret that they wish for the Frenchman to ply his trade in the Spanish capital next.
Speaking ahead of the first leg of the much-anticipated round of 16 tie between the two teams, Benzema insisted that having the chance to play with Mbappe at club level is an exciting prospect.
"Playing against Kylian is special because we play in the national side together," Real's vice-captain he said in a pre-match press conference with a big smirk on his face, according to 90min.
"Everyone knows that one day he could arrive at Madrid, but the most important thing is to play this game first and win it."
Mbappe has so far rebuffed all of the Parisians' offers to extend his stay at the Parc des Prince, further fuelling rumours that he is Los Blancos-bound at the end of the season.
Real tried to acquire his services at the beginning of the campaign but their offers, both understood to be in excess of €150 million (R2.5 billion), were rejected, with PSG's Qatari ownership determined to have the young forward play alongside Neymar and Lionel Messi this season.
Among the other sub-plots of the match is Lionel Messi's first competitive return to Spain, while Sergio Ramos and Achraf Hakimi will be facing their former employers.
