Tchouameni breaks silence on Real Madrid controversy

FT Desk

• 19 Nov 2022 15:02 GMT
• 3 min read

Aurelien Tchouameni has leapt to the defence of his under fire Real Madrid and France international teammate.

Tchouameni hasn't spoken out much since his €100 million move from Monaco to Real Madrid this summer, rather letting his feet do the talking at the Santiago Bernabeu.

That's something his Madrid and France teammate Karim Benzema has done for quite some time now, and the 34-year-old won the Ballon d'Or in October following last season's heroics in which he scored 44 goals in 46 games as Real were crowned Spanish and European champions.

READ: Real Madrid 'angry' at Ballon d'Or winner Benzema

Benzema's start to this season has been impressive too, with five goals from seven La Liga matches, but he has only started one league game since October's 3-1 win over Clasico rivals Barcelona, and los Blancos dropped five of the last possible nine points heading into the winter break.

A muscular injury to Benzema was cited as the reason for his absence, although he has looked fit in training for France ahead of the World Cup in Qatar, and there were reports suggesting that Real were losing patience with their player, suspecting him of keeping his powder dry for the competition.

READ: Tchouameni IN, Camavinga OUT: How will France line up at the 2022 World Cup?

Benzema: 'wasn't at 100%'

Tchouameni has dismissed such claims, though.

"He's used to criticism and if he didn't play the last few matches then it's because he wasn't 100 per cent," the midfielder said on the eve of the tournament. "He's calm and understands his body well. He knows that he'll be able to help the team when he's ready.

"Karim's the best player in the world and has demonstrated this for some time. It's a pleasure to play in his team."

Real's presence shoots right through the current France squad, with Eduardo Camavinga joining Tchouameni and Benzema in the world champions' squad. Los Blancos left-back Ferland Mendy was a surprise exclusion from Didier Deschamps' ensemble, though.