Tchouaméni Warns: Next Time Vinicius Is Abused, We'll Walk Off

Aurélien Tchouaméni was absent from the Allianz Arena when Real Madrid faced Bayern Munich in the Champions League, serving a suspension due to accumulated yellow cards. The midfielder watched the match from the sidelines, like any other spectator. Nevertheless, the Frenchman has been a cornerstone of the "Los Blancos" squad this season, an undisputed starter.

In an interview with the Pivot Podcast, the French midfielder reflected on his most challenging period at Real Madrid, discussing the impact of boos and pressure, and drawing a firm line regarding racist abuse in the Champions League.

The midfielder recalled a time when he was under intense scrutiny. “They made me a scapegoat. For the first 10-20 minutes, the stadium booed me every time I touched the ball. This situation either breaks you, or you tell yourself: ‘This is how it is.’ I thought about what I could control, and the only thing was my performance. The level of pressure at Real Madrid is something else entirely. People will talk about everything you do, whether good or bad.”

Tchouaméni quickly realized the magnitude of his position. He first adjusted his mindset, then his play. “Everyone was talking about me, about how I was playing. A year or two ago, I was considered a bad player, I was booed in the stadium, so I felt I had been through a lot, and that definitely helped me mentally. Now I know that whatever I do, people will talk, so I just ignore them. Playing for Real Madrid is the biggest stage in sports – pressure is a privilege.”

The Frenchman also commented on the incidents in the Champions League involving Vinicius Júnior and Gianluca Prestianni from Benfica. He addressed the topic directly: “They called Vini a ‘monkey.’ I feel that the next step will be for us to stop playing. We will not allow such scenes to be repeated.”