2010 FIFA World Cup: Karim Benzema Not Going, but Is Real Madrid To Blame?

During the beginning of last summer, Real Madrid once again started a major spending spree as Fiorentino Perez dished out millions of Euros for the likes of Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Xabi Alonso to join Los Blancos.

But one move that fell somewhat under the radar was the movement of Karim Benzema from Lyon to Real Madrid for 35 million pounds as Manchester United unsuccessfully pursued him.

Going into this move to Real Madrid, Benzema was slowly becoming a starter for the French national team and was becoming a more elite striker in Ligue 1 with Lyon.

But of course with the new Galaticos era now in effect at Real Madrid, Benzema now found himself battling for playing time as the likes of Gonzalo Higuain, Ronaldo, Esteban Granero, and Raul.

As a result of all of the talent at Real Madrid, Benzema has been given only 14 league starts this season and has 12 appearances as a substute in La Liga.

And with the limited appearances, Benzema has now found himself with only eight La Liga goals, a major dropoff of the 17 goals Benzema scored with Lyon in Ligue 1 last season.

And now, the result of Benzema's move to Madrid has now cost him a spot on the French World Cup roster, as French manager Raymond Domenech decided to exclude Benzema along with Samir Nasri and Patrick Viera (among others) from the preliminary 30-man roster.

Looking back at this decision from Domenech really should make one wonder if Karim Benzema made the right move to jump ship at Lyon and head to Real Madrid?

Benzema acknowledged that he wanted to stay at Lyon in June of last year until the end of the season, as he was afraid of this happening, as Benzema told his agent Karim Djaziri that "he wants to stay with Lyon until the 2010 World Cup."

Obviously Benzema was concerned about making the World Cup squad, but he was still shipped to Real, where he has gotten nowhere near the amount of playing time that was necessary for Benzema to make the World Cup roster.

Or why didn't Benzema just wait another season at Lyon before leaving for Madrid. He would have earned a bigger contract if he did that.

But even if Benzema did want to leave Lyon, why didn't he instead go to Manchester United and hone his craft there as a starter before the World Cup?

Overall, that probably would have been the best move for Benzema moving forward, but instead he now finds himself "stuck" at Real Madrid without a chance to start everyday and not taking the plane ride to South Africa.

Of course Benzema will probably make the 2014 World Cup roster for France in Brazil with Domenech leaving the French at the end of the World Cup.

But this truly was a move that Benzema shouldn't have made at the time that he did, as he lost money and a chance at the international glory of winning the World Cup.

Now that you know my opinion on this manner, please tell me what you think; Did Karim Benzema make the right move to go to Real Madrid last summer now that he is not going to the World Cup?