Real Madrid midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni missed collective training ahead of the club’s La Liga home opener against Real Sociedad at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium after suffering severe physical setbacks during the 2026 World Cup, according to manager José Mourinho. The French international took calculated risks to play through the tournament’s later stages, leading team medical and coaching staff to prescribe a gradual recovery timeline.
Mourinho Details World Cup Toll on Tchouaméni
Speaking to media ahead of Real Madrid’s fixture, Mourinho clarified that the midfielder’s current absence stems from the immense physical toll he endured while representing France over the summer, rather than a fresh structural injury. According to the Portuguese manager, Tchouaméni missed multiple matches during the tournament before returning directly for the semi-final clash against Spain.
“It’s not a relapse of his injury, but he suffered a lot at the World Cup,” Mourinho explained. “He didn’t play several matches, and then returned in the semi-final. He took risks. He tried to resume playing, he wanted to, and he could have continued, but you can’t start a season suffering.”
The decision to halt Tchouaméni’s immediate return to competitive action was reached jointly by the player, the coaching staff, and club medical personnel. Mourinho stated that the collective goal is to allow the midfielder to recuperate fully so he can return at 100 percent fitness within one or two weeks.
La Liga Schedule Adjustments and Squad Status
Real Madrid heads into Wednesday’s match against Real Sociedad following a hard-fought 2-1 opening-weekend victory over Espanyol. That initial round of fixtures was delayed specifically to accommodate the late return of players involved in international tournaments over the summer.
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The manager indicated that Real Madrid’s activity in the transfer market is finished for the window, though he did not entirely rule out the possibility of a late departure from within his current roster.
