Mourinho Surprised by Zidane's Decision on Tchouameni
José Mourinho has moved to cool any suggestion that Real Madrid leaned on France to keep Aurélien Tchouameni out of the national team, insisting the midfielder’s omission was a private call between the player and new coach Zinedine Zidane.
Zidane left Tchouameni out of his first France squad for the upcoming block of four fixtures, a notable decision given the midfielder’s status but one rooted in fitness, not politics. The 24-year-old has been nursing a groin problem and has featured just three times for Madrid this season, starting only once – in the 3-2 defeat to Elche.
Speaking on Saturday ahead of the Madrid derby, Mourinho laid out the situation in blunt terms.
“I had no influence on the decision. I didn't call Zidane and Zidane didn't call me. It took me by surprise,” he 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.”
That missing pre-season has hung over Tchouameni’s campaign. The groin issue has clipped his rhythm, restricted his minutes and left Mourinho carefully rationing his involvement. The international pause, stripped of travel and match load, now becomes something else entirely: a bespoke training camp for one.
The Portuguese coach stressed just how badly his midfielder needs this window to reset his body and build proper conditioning, describing the lack of a full pre-season as a major factor in Tchouameni’s limited game time so far.
From Madrid’s perspective, the arrangement is close to ideal. No flights, no 90-minute slogs, no late returns. Just work, rest and the chance to finally catch up physically with the rest of the squad.
Mourinho did not hide his satisfaction with the outcome.
“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.”
That assurance from Zidane matters. It underlines that Tchouameni’s absence is a temporary sacrifice, not a demotion, and that his place in France’s long-term plans remains intact.
The calendar now falls kindly for both club and player. After Sunday’s derby, Real Madrid do not play again until October 10, when they face Villarreal, before a Champions League meeting with Roma four days later. It is a rare stretch of breathing space in a packed season.
For Tchouameni, it is also a clear line in the sand: heal now, build now, or risk another year of stop-start frustration. For Mourinho, the hope is simpler – that when Villarreal arrive, he finally has the fully fit midfield anchor he has barely been able to use.
