France's midfielder #08 Aurelien Tchouameni reacts during the friendly football match between France and Chile at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille, southern France, on March 26, 2024. (Photo by NICOLAS TUCAT / AFP) (Photo by NICOLAS TUCAT/AFP via Getty Images)
The new France manager, Zinédine Zidane, and Real Madrid’s Aurélien Tchouaméni (26) are reported to have jointly decided that the midfielder would not be included in the France squad for the September training camp, according to L’Équipe.
A few days before the announcement of Zidane’s first squad as France manager, he is said to have phoned Tchouaméni to discuss the player’s fitness. Having suffered an adductor injury during the World Cup, the 26-year-old had postponed his return to club action, before finally making his comeback on Spanish soil on 8 September, in a Champions League match against Inter Milan.
Aware of his lack of match fitness, Tchouaméni is said to have agreed with his new manager not to rush his return to the French national team, and they have already arranged to meet up during the November international break.
Having made four appearances for Real Madrid since his return, the former AS Monaco player came on as a substitute on two occasions before regaining his place in the starting line-up over the past two matches.