Real Madrid confirm Aurelien Tchouameni injury blow

Real Madrid have confirmed key defensive player Aurelien Tchouameni suffered a sprained ankle during Tuesday night's Champions League defeat to AC Milan.

Tchouameni was forced off at half-time, with Madrid having just fallen behind for a second time in the game courtesy of former striker Alavaro Morata's effort. Milan eventually got a third goal to surprisingly claim maximum points at the Bernabeu.

Tests were carried out on Tchouameni's ankle on Wednesday morning, determining the sprain. Madrid issued a statement to clarify the situation but offered no timeframe for his recovery.

Depending on the severity of a sprain and the particular joint affected, such problems can heal in a couple of weeks or linger for substantially longer.

Losing Tchouameni is a significant blow for Madrid. Not only is the Frenchman an important component of Carlo Ancelotti's midfield, he has been serving as the squad's first point of cover in the centre of defence due to David Alaba's ongoing absence, the summer exit of Nacho and failure to land Leny Yoro in the transfer market ahead of Manchester United.

Jesus Vallejo returned from a fifth loan spell away to make up numbers in the squad this season, but the 27-year-old has been used only sparingly and was behind Tchouameni in when it came to centre-back depth. Teenage talent Jacobo Ramon has been with the first-team in recent months but is himself struggling with injury and has been sidelined since the October international break.

Carlo Ancelotti had also taken Joan Martinez, then only 16, on the club's pre-season tour and there was hope among fans the teenage prodigy could make a senior breakthrough. But that was cruelly put on hold when he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament tear in August.

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