Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni has issued a grovelling apology after missing Thursday’s Copa del Rey win over Villarreal to watch an NBA game in Paris. 
The French footballer sustained a calf injury during a La Liga encounter against the Yellow Submarine on January 7 and has remained out of action for some weeks. He missed both of Madrid’s Supercopa de Espana matches in Saudi Arabia last week. However, while his teammates fought so hard to get a 3-2 win over Villarreal in a round of 16 clash in the Copa del Rey, Tchouameni was caught enjoying an Eastern Conference NBA game between the Chicago Bulls and Detroit Pistons in Paris. Real Madrid had to come from two goals behind to book their place in the next round of the Cup.
The midfielder’s action angered fans who have taken to social media to call him out. Tchouameni subsequently issued an apology, acknowledging he made a mistake by not staying in Spain to cheer on his teammates. He tweeted; “I apologise to my club, to the coaching staff, to my teammates and to Real Madrid fans for attending an event at the same time as we had an important game in the cup. I was closely following what was going on in Villarreal at all times but I made a mistake. I am very sorry.” Pido disculpas a mi club, al cuerpo técnico, a mis compañeros y a la afición madridista por mi presencia en un evento a la hora que nos jugábamos mucho en la Copa. He estado atento en todo momento a lo que pasaba en Villarreal, pero no he hecho lo correcto. Lo siento mucho.🤍 — Tchouameni Aurélien (@atchouameni) January 19, 2023 The France international will still be out of action for another two weeks.
