Rarely has such a promising Frenchman seen his future in Madrid darken so quickly. Aurelien Tchouameni, who arrived in 2022 as the future boss of the sector, could well leave Real Madrid this summer. The verdict is still out, but the signals are accumulating.
The explanation lies in one name: Enzo Fernandez. Real Madrid wants to afford the transfer of the Argentine midfielder from Chelsea, which is valued at more than 120 million euros. However, to finance such madness, you need to sell. And Tchuameni is firmly back on the list of potential starters.
According to The Athletic, the Merengue club will have to make at least one mid-way through to complete their recruitment of players. Ceballos has already left. Camavinga is on the market. That leaves Chuameni, whose popularity has not waned. Real won’t sell him: they will have to put together an offer close to what Chelsea is asking for Enzo, that is, about 120 million. One player for another or almost at the same price. There is something dizzying about symmetry.
There is no shortage of suitors. Manchester United and Liverpool, who are in need of a defender, are keeping a close eye on the matter. On the Red Devils side, the need for this became obvious after the departure of Casemiro and the difficulties of Manuel Ugarte. The Reds are interested in finding a relay player who can replace the midfield. Two big English names about the same Frenchman: it smells like gunpowder.
How did we get there? We face a challenging season marked by physical challenges and increased competition. Thouameni’s profile – a pure defensive midfielder, sometimes turning into a central pivot depending on absence – never found its final place in the project. And with the arrival of Jose Mourinho, the cards are shuffled. The Special One has his own ideas, his own preferences. Not everyone will find something suitable.
For the player, it could be a bitter pill to swallow. A European champion and established France international, he undoubtedly thought he would become a regular in Madrid. Professional football hardly bothers itself with feelings. A matter of time, needs, financial balance. Nothing more.
There remains a gray area. If Chuameni leaves, who will hold the house in front of the defense? Real Madrid, in their current form, have no other real number 6. Selling the Frenchman without a similar profile would be risky. Unless Mourinho already has an idea in his head…
Here’s some news that will shake up the transfer window. The Madrid soap opera, already well staffed, has just won a new episode. Between the Argentine we want to attract and the French we are ousting, Real Madrid is playing a chess game worth tens of millions.
Die is cast. Or almost. Now everything will depend on the proposals that land on Florentino Perez’s table.