Tchouaméni reveals he played World Cup in pain: 'I have no regrets'

📰 Aurélien Tchouaméni has admitted for the first time that he played through thigh pain at the summer's World Cup. 📌 Key points 🩹 Tchouaméni says the pain began around France's third or fourth match. 🎙️ He made the admission in an interview with France 24. ⚽ He said the semi-final loss to Spain was not "the real" him. 💬 "I paid the price afterwards, but I have no regrets," he said. 🏟️ The problem delayed the start of his season at Real Madrid. 📝 What happened 🎙️ Speaking to France 24, Tchouaméni said: "By the third or fourth match, and even a little before, I had pain." He explained that at a World Cup "we try to do everything to be as good as possible". ⚽ France were knocked out by Spain in the semi-finals. Of that game, he said: "That wasn't the real Aurélien Tchouaméni." 💬 He added: "I took risks that I perhaps wouldn't have taken at another moment. I paid the price afterwards, but it's part of my story and I don't regret anything." 🏟️ The thigh issue carried on after the tournament and delayed the start of his campaign with Real Madrid. 📊 By the numbers • Pain began: around the third or fourth World Cup match • Tchouaméni's age: 26 • France at the World Cup: semi-final exit to Spain 🔭 Why it matters José Mourinho's Real Madrid went into the break six points behind leaders Barcelona and need more control in midfield. A fully fit Tchouaméni would be a major boost. Madrid resume against Villarreal at home on 10 October, before El Clásico at the Camp Nou on 25 October.