Mourinho on Zidane's Tchouameni Decision: A Surprising Choice

Aurélien Tchouameni will sit out France’s next four matches under new boss Zinedine Zidane – but Real Madrid insist the call did not come from them.

The midfielder has been hampered by a stubborn groin injury and has barely featured this season, with just three appearances and a single start, in the 3-2 defeat to Elche. For a player expected to anchor both club and country, it has been a stuttering, frustrating start.

On Saturday, on the eve of the Madrid derby, José Mourinho moved to shut down any suggestion that Madrid had leaned on France to protect their player.

“I had no influence on the decision. I didn't call Zidane and Zidane didn't call me. It took me by surprise,” Mourinho said. “But they (Zidane and Tchouameni) discussed and agreed that the best thing for him was to use this break to do the pre-season he couldn't do.”

So no political manoeuvring. No tug-of-war between Valdebebas and Clairefontaine. Just a conversation between a new national-team coach and a key player trying to get his body right.

A much-needed ‘pre-season’ in September

Mourinho has been blunt about why Tchouameni has played so little. Without a proper pre-season, the midfielder has been chasing his fitness from behind, his minutes carefully rationed.

The Portugal coach underlined how vital this window is for the 24-year-old.

Tchouameni, he stressed, “desperately needs this time” to rebuild his physical base. The plan is simple: use the international break as a mini pre-season, away from the intensity and risk of competitive fixtures.

From Madrid’s point of view, it is close to the ideal scenario. No travel. No back-to-back starts. Just controlled work and rest.

Mourinho didn’t hide that advantage.

“The national team manager let him know that he was counting on him for the future and they agreed on this decision which, for us, is a privilege,” he said. “Because after the derby, he will have his days off and will be able to come back stronger.”

France keep their long-term midfielder. Madrid get the short-term gain. Everyone leaves the table satisfied.

A clear runway after the derby

The calendar now opens up invitingly for both club and player. Once the derby is out of the way on Sunday, Real Madrid do not play again until October 10, when Villarreal visit. Four days after that comes a Champions League tie against Roma.

That gap is gold for a player in Tchouameni’s situation. No need to be rushed back for a midweek game or thrown into three matches in eight days. Instead, a clean stretch to heal properly and rebuild rhythm.

For Mourinho, the hope is obvious: that this carefully managed pause finally allows Tchouameni to step out of the treatment room’s shadow and into the role many expected from day one — as a regular, undisputed starter in his Real Madrid midfield.