Algeria manager Djamel Belmadi has shot down suggestions that he could be interested in calling up Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema after the former French international was told he will never represent the world champions again.

The 31-year-old has been out of the French national team set-up for a number of years after an off-the-field incident involving Benzema and a teammate.

Benzema, though, has been on fire for Real Madrid, stepping up to help fill the void left by the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo.

However, the forward won’t be considered for France despite his form after French Football Federation president Noel Le Graet stated the striker will never be called up to the national team again.

The former Lyon man took to Twitter to respond to the statement, pleading for France to let him represent another country. He added he would love to play for Algeria, the country he could have represented before playing for Les Bleus.

However, Algeria manager Belmadi isn’t interested, insisting he is happy with his forward line when asked about it.

‘I have [Baghdad] Bounedjah, Islam [Slimani], [Andy] Delort, [Hillal] Soudani,’ he told DZFoot.

‘I’m very happy with the players I have.’

Benzema made 81 appearances for France, scoring 27 goals and assisting a further 18 strikes, but has not played since 2015.