Karim Benzema has been the target of significant criticism from Real Madrid fans in the last few years, but his former coach Zinedine Zidane was grateful for the striker's selflessness.
Benzema started to come under fire during the 2016-17 season, when he only managed to score 11 La Liga goals, 13 fewer than he managed in the previous campaign.
Things only got worse for Benzema last term, as he netted just five times in the league and was the subject of jeers from Madrid fans on several occasions.
Rumours swirled the club searched for a replacement to man the centre forward role during that span and continued through the summer.