Aurelien Tchouameni is a sucker for an inspirational quote.
While reading about the legacy of New Zealand's rugby union team, the All Blacks, he typed the phrase "Aim for the highest cloud" into his phone. The Real Madrid midfielder lives by the mantra "Get up every day and be better than yesterday". The torrent of sentiment has seeped into his own dialogue. "You can't ever rest," he declared upon his arrival in Spain, "you have to do everything,"
Tchouameni won't be doing any strenuous activity for the foreseeable future after sustaining a foot injury in Madrid's Clasico victory over Barcelona at the end of October.
Here's the latest on the French international who will no doubt have a bevvy of juicy slogans to help him get through his spell on the sidelines.
When will Aurelien Tchouameni return from injury?
Tchouameni's social media output is not entirely devoted to phrases that would fit in front of an image of a snowy mountain.
Spanish broadcasters DAZN released footage from Madrid's 2-1 triumph over Barcelona on October 29 that showed the Catalan midfielder Gavi clattering into Tchouameni, supposedly the moment that caused the damage to his foot.
Channelling X's community notes, Tchouameni cleared his opponent's name, clarifying: "It is not Gavi's fault. I got injured at the end of the first half."
Real Madrid confirmed the exact ailment Tchouameni had suffered, diagnosing their player "with an incomplete stress fracture in the second metatarsal of the left foot".
The club would only say: "His progress is to be monitored," but initial reports suggest that Tchouameni could be out for as long as two months. If this is the case, Madrid will be without their defensive pivot until Christmas.
Fortunately for Madrid, the club have already hurdled the toughest fixtures in their schedule this calendar year. In La Liga, the capital club are not scheduled to play a single team inside the division's current top six for the remainder of 2023. Carlo Ancelotti's side have the second half of their Champions League group phase to navigate but are almost through the knockout stages already after three consecutive wins.
How Real Madrid could replace Aurelien Tchouameni
If Madrid can absorb an injury in any position, it's in the middle of the pitch. "We have seven midfielders and only four play," Ancelotti explained earlier this season before taking aim at his critics, "and when I put five you also throw sticks at me, so better to stay with four."
Of Madrid's seven midfielders, Tchouameni is Ancelotti's first-choice at the bottom of the midfield diamond which he has introduced this season. Toni Kroos can fill this void but only when Ancelotti is confident that Madrid will dominate possession.
Jude Bellingham can do anything but Madrid cannot afford to shift their top scorer away from goal. That leaves Eduardo Camavinga as the closest replacement for his compatriot.
The elegant 20-year-old has featured in every game this season across three different positions. Tchouameni's absence will give Camavinga the chance to move out of his unfavoured role as Madrid's makeshift left-back and back into midfield. To steal a line that Tchouameni would like, one door closes and another one opens.
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This article was originally published on 90min as Aurelien Tchouameni injury: Progress & potential return date for Real Madrid midfielder.
