Real Madrid's French international midfielder, Aurelien Tchouameni, is likely to be out of action for around a month after the club on Wednesday confirmed he suffered a twisted ankle in their 3-1 Champions League defeat to AC Milan on Tuesday night.
Aurelien Tchouameni (L) of Real Madrid vies with Kubo Takefusa of Real Sociedad during a Spanish La Liga football match in Madrid, Spain, Sept. 17, 2023. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua)
Tchouameni was taken off at halftime and replaced by Eduardo Camavinga in what had looked like a tactical substitution as Madrid trailed 2-1 at the break.
However, the club has now confirmed the player was changed due to injury. "After tests carried out today (Wednesday) on our player, Aurelien Tchouameni, by the Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with a twisted left ankle," informs the Real Madrid website.
The club has not given a return date, but the midfielder will certainly miss Saturday's game at home to Osasuna and will probably be unavailable for France in the forthcoming international break.
Tchouameni has come in for considerable criticism in the press for his performance in the first 45 minutes of Tuesday's defeat, with commentators pointing out his lack of mobility and slow ball distribution against a rival that dominated the midfield for most of the match.
Fede Valverde is also doubtful for the weekend after also being taken off at halftime, and he too, is a doubt for the weekend.