Aurélien Tchouaméni set to miss Real Madrid’s finale with muscle issue as Vinicius Junior also sits out

Real Madrid are set to close their league season without Aurélien Tchouaméni after the midfielder missed training with what has been described as muscle pain.

According to reports in Spain, Tchouaméni stayed at the club’s training ground on Thursday rather than joining the main group, leaving him highly unlikely to feature against Athletic Bilbao on Saturday night. For Carlo Ancelotti’s side, it means one more late-season absence in a squad that has already been managing several fitness issues.

The timing matters because Tchouaméni had already been under the spotlight in recent days after his involvement in an altercation with teammate Federico Valverde. That episode generated heavy reaction in Spain, with some calling for stronger disciplinary action. Instead, the latest development appears to be medical rather than punitive.

A season-ending setback for Tchouaméni

The key point for Real Madrid is simple: Tchouaméni is now expected to miss the final game of the campaign.

Reports indicate there has been no fresh internal punishment from the club linked to the recent controversy. Rather, his absence is being put down to a physical issue that prevented him from taking part in collective training.

That effectively ends his domestic season one game early.

For Tchouaméni personally, it is an awkward finish. He has spent much of the season moving between midfield and defensive responsibilities depending on Real Madrid’s needs, often serving as one of the squad’s tactical problem-solvers. Missing the finale means he loses the chance to round off the campaign on the pitch at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Valverde returns after missing three matches

There was better news for Real Madrid elsewhere in midfield, with Federico Valverde returning after his own injury setback.

The Uruguay international had sat out the club’s last three matches, but his return to availability gives Madrid at least one important boost before the Athletic Bilbao game. Given his intensity, range and ability to cover ground, Valverde’s presence can help rebalance a side that may be missing multiple regular starters.

The contrast is notable. While Tchouaméni looks set to sit out, Valverde is back in the frame after a short absence.

That should influence how Madrid build their midfield for the final match, especially if the coaching staff choose to manage minutes carefully across the squad before players head off for summer international duty.

Vinicius Junior also absent from training

Tchouaméni may not be the only big-name absentee.

Vinicius Junior also did not take part in training, and reports in Spain suggest there is an understanding between player and club for him to rest before linking up with Brazil.

If that plan holds, Real Madrid would be without one of their main attacking threats for the final game of the league season.

Vinicius has carried a huge creative and direct burden for Madrid again, and even a planned rest rather than an injury-enforced absence would still reshape the attack for Saturday. His ability to stretch games, win one-on-one duels and force defensive adjustments is difficult to replace.

From Madrid’s perspective, caution at this stage of the calendar is understandable. With the league campaign effectively concluding and international fixtures ahead, protecting key players can outweigh the value of pushing for one more appearance.

Trent Alexander-Arnold misses session with illness

Another absentee on the training report was Trent Alexander-Arnold, who was unavailable because of a viral infection.

While that issue is separate from the situations involving Tchouaméni and Vinicius, it added to a disrupted session and underlined how patchwork the squad picture looks heading into the weekend.

Late in the season, even minor physical problems or illnesses can quickly shape team selection. Saturday’s lineup may therefore be determined as much by player management as by pure tactical preference.

A farewell moment for Dani Carvajal

Even with the fitness concerns, the match against Athletic Bilbao is expected to carry a strong emotional focus because Dani Carvajal is set to receive a formal tribute.

The Real Madrid captain is preparing to leave the club after 13 years of service, bringing the curtain down on a long and decorated spell in white.

That gives the evening a significance beyond the result. For supporters, the final home game is likely to be framed as a farewell to one of the club’s most recognisable figures of the modern era.

Carvajal’s longevity at Madrid has been built on reliability, competitive edge and an ability to remain part of the club’s cycle of success across different managerial eras. Tribute nights can sometimes shift the mood of an otherwise routine end-of-season fixture, and this one looks certain to do exactly that.

What it means for Real Madrid against Athletic Bilbao

If Tchouaméni and Vinicius are both absent, Madrid lose an important piece in midfield control and a major source of attacking thrust.

That changes the shape of the contest against an Athletic Bilbao side capable of making games physically demanding and tactically uncomfortable.

Real Madrid would then head into the finale with several questions to answer.

• Who provides midfield stability without Tchouaméni?
• How much responsibility falls on Valverde immediately after his return?
• Can Madrid generate enough threat without Vinicius driving the attack?
• Will rotation open the door for fringe players to finish the season with meaningful minutes?

Those are the practical issues behind the headlines. The fixture may not redefine Madrid’s season, but it still offers a final snapshot of the squad’s balance, depth and physical condition going into the summer.

The bigger picture around Tchouaméni

Tchouaméni’s likely absence also lands at an unfortunate moment for the player’s public image.

Recent attention around the altercation with Valverde had already pushed him into the spotlight for the wrong reasons. A season-ending fitness problem now removes any immediate chance to shift the conversation back to football.

That does not change his broader value to the squad. Over the course of the season, he has remained one of Madrid’s most adaptable players, asked to fill different roles depending on injuries, suspensions and game state. But this latest setback means his campaign ends quietly rather than with a chance to reassert himself on the pitch.

For Real Madrid, the hope will be that the issue is minor and does not carry into the summer.

Final-day focus shifts from result to availability

As things stand, the main storyline around Real Madrid’s final league game is no longer just the matchup with Athletic Bilbao. It is who will be available, who will be rested, and who will be missing altogether.

Tchouaméni appears to be out with muscle pain. Vinicius could also be held back. Trent Alexander-Arnold missed training through illness. Valverde, meanwhile, offers one positive note by returning after injury.

That leaves Madrid heading into the weekend with an incomplete squad but a clear emotional centre, as Carvajal prepares for his goodbye.

The final whistle on Saturday will close the season. For Tchouaméni, it seems that ending has already arrived.