Real Madrid Rocked By Devastating Injury Crisis As November International Break Begins

Real Madrid central midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni has been forced to withdraw from France's November international camp after sustaining a right adductor injury.

The 26-year-old managed just a couple of days under Zinédine Zidane's guidance before being sidelined. Tchouaméni was unable to complete Tuesday's training session and was promptly sent for medical tests to determine the source of his discomfort.

Shortly afterward, the French national team released a concerning statement confirming the injury: "Aurélien Tchouaméni is suffering from a right adductor injury. Following consultations with Real Madrid's medical team, the France national team's medical staff, in agreement with the player, has decided to release him back to his club."

The midfielder is now heading back to the Spanish capital, leaving Les Bleus to take on Italy and Türkiye in the UEFA Nations League without their No. 6.

Déjà vu for Tchouaméni, Real Madrid

Just a few months ago, Tchouaméni was already dealing with an adductor problem he picked up at the 2026 World Cup. The Frenchman missed the start of the 2026–27 campaign and didn't make his first appearance for Los Blancos until Sept. 15, during the club's 3–2 victory over Elche.

Real Madrid managed to cope in Tchouaméni's absence, though they were clearly not operating at full capacity without their midfield anchor. José Mourinho must have been greatly relieved when the French international regained his fitness and reclaimed his spot in the starting lineup, where he has remained ever since.

The 15-time European champions have since strung together an eight-match winning run across all competitions, maintaining a perfect record in the Champions League group phase while closing the gap on Barcelona to just three points at the top of the La Liga table.

Tchouaméni was instrumental in the team's revival, particularly after Mourinho repositioned Federico Valverde to the right wing, dissolving the double pivot that had frequently struggled to deliver results.

Now, just as the team was hitting its stride, Mourinho may once again be without Tchouaméni. The burden will fall on Bernardo Silva and Eduardo Camavinga to cover the void potentially left in the middle of the park.

The Games Tchouaméni Could Miss for Real Madrid

When Tchouaméni previously dealt with this injury, his recovery took approximately 30 days. If he faces a similar timeline, the No. 6 could be absent for as many as five Real Madrid fixtures across all competitions.

The 15-time European champions return to league action on Nov. 21 against Celta Vigo, before hosting PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League — two matches Los Blancos should be capable of winning comfortably even without Tchouaméni.

A home encounter with Alavés at the Bernabéu is similarly not expected to pose a major threat to Mourinho's side. However, they will then face a tough Real Sociedad outfit in San Sebastián, followed by a trip to Athletic Club at San Mamés.

This represents a crucial run of La Liga fixtures for Real Madrid; any dropped points could allow Barcelona to extend their lead at the summit of the table.

Should Tchouaméni require additional recovery time, he also risks missing a high-profile Champions League showdown with Arsenal on Dec. 9. Los Blancos will be eager to settle the score in north London following a painful quarterfinal exit against the Gunners in 2024–25.