Tchouaméni finally speaks about Valverde bust-up
The Real Madrid midfielder, at France’s camp, confirmed something happened with the Uruguayan, but denied he punched him.
Real Madrid midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni spoke to the media at France’s training camp ahead of the upcoming World Cup. The French international congratulated his teammates and PSG on their Champions League triumph on Saturday and publicly addressed, for the first time, his altercation with Fede Valverde, denying reports that he punched his teammate and criticising the media coverage of the incident.
“A lot of nonsense was said,” he remarked.
PSG’s Champions League title: “I was resting. We watched the final. Kouamé’s tennis match was also on, so we had two screens running at the same time. I think PSG deserved to win the Champions League. Of course, I would have preferred Real Madrid to win, but we’re happy for them and we congratulate them.”
The altercation with Fede Valverde: “Clearly, things happened. You could see it and hear about it in the media. It was blown out of proportion because it appeared in the press, and when you play for Real Madrid, it generates a big reaction. A lot of nonsense was written. I read that there was a fight and that I had punched him, which was not the case. I won’t go into further detail. The most important thing is that the club was informed about what happened. Many things happen in dressing rooms that never reach the press. Life goes on. Fede and I share the same objective: winning titles with Real Madrid. There are no problems. And if I face him at the World Cup, we’ll both be determined to win for our respective national teams. On a personal level, there are no issues between Valverde and me.”
@asusaofficial A video showing a handshake between Fede Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni has gone viral in the hours after a disciplinary issue dominated headlines ahead of El Clásico. #RealMadrid #barça #elclasico #laliga #soccer
♬ Beat 7 - Vidatno.com
On congratulating his PSG teammates: “Of course. We’re all happy for them and we’ve spoken with some of them. It’s good for the national team to have European champions from PSG. It’s positive for the value and quality of our squad.”
A trophyless season with Real Madrid: “Extra motivation? I don’t think so because the national team is different from club football. Even if we had won everything, we would still be hungry for more. With Real Madrid, it was a season that fell short of our expectations. We wanted to win trophies. Now we want to win the World Cup. We’re all highly motivated.”
Mbappé’s role as captain: “Kylian is already a leader, both on and off the pitch. He speaks a lot during matches and in the dressing room. He has the ability to connect with everyone. He’s our captain and leads by example. He’s also someone who jokes around a lot, both at the club and with the national team. He fulfils his role as captain very well.”
The World Cup: “I’m eager to play in the World Cup. We’re even hungrier than we were before the last tournament. We have a great squad and a lot of confidence in ourselves. We’re very excited.”
Didier Deschamps: “If we can give him the best possible send-off at the World Cup, we’ll do everything we can. But that’s not going to be our focus. Our priority is giving everything to win the World Cup.”
Whether joining France after a trophyless season feels like a fresh start:“As I said, the World Cup is something special. At club level, you’re fully focused on your season, and ours didn’t go the way we wanted. Every time we join the national team, it doesn’t matter what happened with our clubs because it’s a different environment and a new dynamic. You have to separate the two.”
Playing in a double pivot: “You have to adapt to the way your teammate plays. Here, it’s about coordinating movement and occupying spaces well. When you have a good understanding with your partner, it also gives you more freedom to push forward.”
Related stories
Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.
Complete your personal details to comment