<<Print>>

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has declared that he does not want the winter break to come as he believes he is finally settling into life in Spain both on and off the field, and that he is making progress in terms of his performances in the famous white shirt. Madrid have just one league game remaining, at home to Real Zaragoza on Saturday and Benzema feels the break is coming at the wrong time for him as he is finally settling into his role "On Saturday I felt very strong. I feel I have found my place and that little by little I am gaining new respect as a footballer. I know I need to put games back to back playing the most minutes possible to raise my level of play. Somehow, I regret that the Christmas break is so close because I'm making good progress and I don't want to stop now," he told AS. " I have a bigger circle of friends now, not just French speakers. [Gonzalo] Higuain, [Ezequiel] Garay and Cristiano Ronaldo, among many others. "The question was not whether I was going to be successful at Real Madrid because I have never doubted it, but how long I would need. Now, all is well. I feel released."