Nike has expressed ‘regret’ at discussions with Karim Benzema about appearing in an advertising campaign.The Athletic reports that the American sportswear giant cancelled on Wednesday night a shoot due to take place in London on Thursday after concluding the former Real Madrid and France striker’s controversial past was not in keeping with the brand’s values.Benzema had previously worn Nike boots before switching to rivals Adidas in 2007GettyA statement from Nike to The Athletic explained: “This project does not reflect a wider relationship between the athlete and Nike. We regret that conversations got this far.”Benzema’s legal troublesIn November 2021, Benzema was found guilty of complicity in blackmail of fellow France international Mathieu Valbuena with a sex tape.Benzema was fined €75,000 and handed a one-year suspended prison sentence.Benzema didn’t play for France for five years amid the case but eventually returned to the fold, retiring from international football in 2022 with 97 caps and 37 goals to his name.He had been due to appeal his conviction but ultimately decided against doing so.However, his lawyer Hugues Vigier said he continued to deny any wrongdoing.Vigier told the Associated Press in 2022: “Karim continues to contest the slightest blackmail.“He is guilty under the law, that’s true. But judicial truth is different from reality.”What’s next for Benzema?Benzema ended his 14-year stay with Real Madrid in 2023, leaving as the club’s second-highest goalscorer of all time behind Cristiano Ronaldo.The five-time Champions League winner and 2022 Ballon d’Or recipient went on to join Al Ittihad, doing the 2024/25 Saudi double.Benzema is without a club having most recently played for Al Hilal in Saudi ArabiaGettyHe later played for fellow Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal, leaving by mutual consent last month.As such, Benzema, who turns 39 in December, is currently one of the most prominent free agents in the game.It was reported earlier this month that a proposed return to former club Lyon had fallen through.It has also been suggested he could potentially make a sensational move to the Premier League.Benzema represented France from 2007 until 2022, featuring at four major tournaments.Les Blues’ sixth-highest scorer ever, he was named French Player of the Year four times between 2011 and 2021.