Real Madrid News
Zidane explains Real Madrid midfielder’s exclusion from France squad: ‘For his recovery process…’
Former Real Madrid player, manager, and club legend Zinedine Zidane is now the head coach of the France national team.
Having taken over the reins from Didier Deschamps after the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the legendary Frenchman announced his first national team squad list earlier today.
Les Bleus are set to play four games in the UEFA Nations League over the next three weeks in Zidane’s first assignment, and he has called up three players from Real Madrid in his squad.
Indeed, Kylian Mbappe, Ibrahima Konate, and Eduardo Camavinga have all been included in the roster, but Aurelien Tchouameni did not make the cut.
Zidane explains decision to leave Tchouameni out
Speaking to the media after the announcement of the squad, Zidane explained his thinking behind not calling Tchouameni up for France’s upcoming matches.
“He’s a player who was sidelined for two months. For his recovery process, it was better for him to stay in Madrid,” the French manager said, as quoted by RMC Sport.
Tchouameni returned to Real Madrid after the World Cup carrying an injury and did not play a part in pre-season under Jose Mourinho.
Having recently recovered, the midfielder made his comeback only recently, coming off the bench against Inter Milan, before getting more minutes against Rayo Vallecano, and then going on to start his first game of the season vs Elche.
While he has been steadily building up his fitness and match rhythm, Zidane felt it was best that Tchouameni was spared from international duty so that he can stay in Madrid focus on his complete recovery.
On Kylian Mbappe
Meanwhile, during the media interaction, Zidane also confirmed that Mbappe will continue as the France captain under him.
“Yes, he is now my new player and will be my captain,” the Real Madrid legend said.
On being asked about the French superstar’s Ballon d’Or candidacy, Zidane refused to speculate, saying:
“I’m not going to blow the whistle to end play. I know what it’s like to be a Ballon d’Or winner. Every now and then there are a few little chats. But we won’t necessarily be talking about that behind closed doors.”
Giving his two cents on the criticism laid at Mbappe over his lack of defensive work, Zidane dismissed the notion as false, saying:
“It’s a bogus issue, a bogus debate; we’ll have to deal with him just like any other player. When we don’t have the ball, we’ll have to work hard. That won’t be a problem for Kylian.”
On whether he saw the Real Madrid ace as France’s best No. 9, Zidane added: “I don’t think so, he can play in all three positions, I really like him on the left.”
Real Madrid can’t seem to catch a break, as far as La Liga is concerned.
After a defeat to Atletico Madrid, where the referee made a few controversial calls, Real Madrid’s recent game against Villarreal was also mired in controversy, after Vinicius Jr. was sent off and his goal disallowed.
The Brazilian now faces the possibility of facing a lengthened suspension that could rule him out of El Clasico later this month.
Real Madrid frustrated over kickoff time vs Valencia
Now, Real Madrid have found themselves another issue, this time regarding the kickoff time for their upcoming La Liga game.
According to AS, Real Madrid are unhappy with the slot LaLiga has handed them for their Matchday 12 meeting with Valencia.
Madrid face AEK Athens in the Champions League on Wednesday, November 4 at 6:45 PM, only for LaLiga to then schedule the Valencia clash for Saturday, November 7 at 9:00 PM.
With the squad set to land back in the capital in the early hours, Mourinho’s men will have little more than Thursday and Friday to prepare for a Valencia side that has proven stubborn of late.
Club sources describe “enormous unease and surprise” at the decision, precisely because it hits the players so directly.
Rivals handed the kinder draw
The frustration deepens when Madrid look across at their title rivals.
Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Villarreal all play their European fixtures a day earlier, on Tuesday, November 3, and then feature in LaLiga on Sunday, November 8.
Betis, who travel to Borussia Dortmund on the Wednesday, are likewise handed a Sunday slot.
That leaves Real Madrid as the only one of the five Spanish sides in Europe forced to play on the Saturday, surrendering a full day of recovery to their competitors.
From the dressing room’s point of view, there is no logic to it. With an international break following that weekend, and no midweek European or Cup commitments to juggle, Madrid see no reason the game could not have been pushed to Sunday.
Samuel
September 18, 2026 at 8:59 pm
It’s only that zinadine don’t want to embarrass Tchouameni by making it clear he doesn’t fit the role, and he knows that very well that he is not a quality player.